There’s no mistaking the weight of expectations in Austin this year. Texas isn’t just back—they’re officially favored. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Longhorns are co-favorites alongside Ohio State to win the national title, both sitting at +600 odds. That’s not just a nod to quarterback depth, defensive athleticism, or how head coach Steve Sarkisian manages a roster of blue-chippers and frustrated backups. It’s also about money—lots of it. The kind of money that makes other powerhouse programs do a double-take. And it’s raising one very serious question: can you really buy a national championship?
Yahoo! Sports analyst Adam Breneman didn’t mince words in a recent segment. He kept it straight to the heart of the matter. “Ohio State dropped $20 million on NIL last year,” Breneman said, “but there’s one program nearly doubling that amount of money. We’re entering a new era in college football where NIL budgets are starting to look like NFL salary caps.” Then came the reveal. “So who’s the program leading the charge? It’s Texas. Texas is reportedly spending 35 to $40 million on their 2025 roster.” That staggering figure is turning heads. And it sets up a fascinating dynamic: the two biggest spenders in college football potentially meeting in January, where dollars meet destiny.
Of course, a large portion of that budget is tied to one name: Arch Manning. Even though the young QB hasn’t started a game, his NIL valuation already sits at an estimated $6.6 million. That’s the going rate for future royalties. But Texas isn’t just spending on headlines. This year’s NIL projection also includes a $20.5 million revenue-sharing allotment. These aren’t just booster checks and collectives tossing money around. This is structured, strategic roster building. Like an NFL front office operating inside a college program.
Texas has learned to weaponise the NIL era with ruthless efficiency. And the strategy is working. The Longhorns landed the No. 1 recruiting class for 2025, reeling in five five-star players in a class that rivals any in modern memory. With a war chest to keep veterans happy and an elite class of freshmen on deck, Steve Sarkisian is managing not just a depth chart, but a delicate economy of egos, expectations, and entitlement.
But here’s the catch—money guarantees nothing in football. Texas knows this better than anyone. Talent can walk through the door, but chemistry, execution, and health still decide championships. That’s what makes Breneman’s question so biting: “My biggest question now is, does the fattest wallet mean you’re gonna win titles as well?” The Longhorns have the glitz. The five stars. The biggest NIL spend in the nation. Now they have to prove that all the millions can translate into wins under the lights, not just contracts on paper.
Big money moves, Finebaum thinks Texas is built for an SEC breakthrough
When Paul Finebaum talks college football, people listen. And when it comes to Texas, he’s all in. Despite the mass roster turnover in Austin, Finebaum’s message on his SEC Network show was clear: don’t sleep on the Longhorns.
“There’s a lot of replacing going on at Texas,” Finebaum said. “But, nobody, and I mean nobody, did better in the portal or spent more money than the University of Texas. So, I think they are going to be in good shape depth-wise.”
That kind of confidence from Finebaum is telling. Texas may have said goodbye to a large chunk of last year’s star power, but in today’s transfer portal era, and with Texas’s checkbook? Reloading comes easily.
“It may take a little while, although I don’t think it will. I think they’ll be one of the two or three best teams in the country from the beginning,” he continued. “Win or lose against Ohio State, I still like their chances to win the SEC.” So, whether they start the season with fireworks or a humbling loss in Columbus, Finebaum says, don’t count Texas out.
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