Ohio State, Texas, Oregon Top The Athletic's CFB Roster Spending Estimates in New Report
Bleacher Report • • sports
Key Points:
- Ohio State leads college football in NIL spending with an estimated budget between $49 million and $54 million, followed closely by Oregon and Texas.
- The top 10 NIL spenders include six SEC teams and two Big Ten schools, with most programs ranked within the Associated Press Top 25 after Week 2 of the 2026 season.
- Eight of the 10 highest NIL spenders are ranked in the AP top 10, highlighting a strong correlation between NIL investment and team performance.
- Notable exceptions include Indiana and Georgia, which rank 13th and 19th in NIL spending despite being top-ranked teams.
- Oregon stands out as an outlier with the second-highest NIL spending but a lower No. 21 AP ranking after early-season losses, though it remains a strong contender for the College Football Playoff.
