How much does it cost to win a national championship? This question should be at the forefront of people’s minds in Athens, Austin, and Baton Rouge. The SEC has been shut out for two years in a row. They have not played in or won a national championship. The cost of winning a national championship is “around 20 million.” At least that is what the Ohio State Athletic Director said at a press conference last year. The money was well spent in Columbus. Sure, they didn’t beat the Wolverines, but they boat-raced Tennessee, and Oregon, and they held off both Texas and Notre Dame to win their first National Championship under Ryan Day. According to recently published NCAA estimates, the SEC has been taking notes. The SEC owns seven of the top most expensive rosters in college football. Here are your seven most expensive SEC rosters heading into the 2025 season.
SEC Tailgate Talk: Most Expensive SEC Rosters 2025
#1 Texas Longhorns
Everything is bigger in Texas, including their NIL budgets. Texas has the most expensive SEC roster heading into 2025. The Longhorns have an estimated roster of $22 million, ready to roll into year two in the SEC in Austin. Steve Sarkisian comes from the Nick Saban coaching tree and is working on The Process 2.0 with the Longhorns. Sarkinisan consistently has the Horns in the Top 3 for recruiting and has used the Transfer Portal to bring in some of the top talent.
#3 LSU Tigers
The Fam-I-Ly came together to get Brian Kelly a roster for 2025. The Tigers spent big on the portal, will have a $20 million budget, and have sky-high expectations for Year 4 in Baton Rouge. Last year, Kelly said he was “not in the market for buying players.” Life can change quickly. LSU has the #1 Transfer Portal Class in 2025.
Let’s face it, Kelly has been good at LSU. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman. He has also consistently won nine or ten games in each of three seasons. Good is not enough in Baton Rouge. Tiger fans want more, and after losing Bryce Underwood to Michigan, it appears the market has changed for Kelly and the Tigers.
#4 Georgia Bulldogs
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have had a rough path to taking the baton as the new standard or Kings of the SEC. The Dawgs check in third on the list. Georgia has been a mainstay in playing and competing for SEC and national championships. 2024 just wasn’t great. Sure, they won the SEC championship, but nobody can be happy with a three-loss 2024 season. The Classic City Collective has done a fine job ensuring that Kirby Smart has the funds to keep a successful product on the field. As we look ahead to 2025, you must wonder where all that money is going. Georgia will have more questions than answers heading into 2025
#5 Texas A&M Aggies
Can 17 million dollars be enough to get the Aggies to double-digit wins? We are just a few years removed from Jimbo Fisher’s #1 recruiting class. That class was supposed to be the one, along with Fisher, to take the Aggies to the promised land finally. Fisher and most of that class are gone, but apparently, the money remained. Though just like the 2024 standings, the Aggies are still chasing the Longhorns.
#7 Alabama Crimson Tide
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. #7 is great for most schools. Alabama is not like most schools and certainly was not under Saban. The Crimson Tide roster will be just under $16 million heading into the 2025 season. Sure, the now 18-year-old Ryan Williams will be back at receiver, but who will be throwing him the ball? Remember, Bjork said it cost $20 million to win a championship. Carson Beck, allegedly, got $4 million to go to South Beach. Could that math be the difference in a first championship for Kalen DeBoers?
#8 Florida Gators
Billy Napier is still in Florida and owns the #8 spot on the SEC’s most expensive rosters. While many counted Napier down and out (including this writer, who still does), he and the Gators found a way to get to eight wins in 2024. The Gators’ collective put together just over $15 million to see if DJ Lagaway can try to get Florida back to maybe nine or even 10 wins in 2025. Pay no attention to the fact that Lagway didn’t throw much during spring.
#10 Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma seems to have a lot of money lying around. Last year, they extended Brent Venables for a reason only the good Lord knows. Venables responded to the vote of confidence with a 2-6 conference record and losing the bowl game to Navy. Not great. The Sooners have spent close to $15 million on their 2025 roster and have the dubious distinction of tying Arkansas for most players, 30, to enter the portal. The Sooners brought in a new OC and spent a good chunk of money on bringing his quarterback, Johnny Mateer, with him. Will it be enough to make the money well spent, or will the Sooners have to pass the hat around to find a new coach in 2025?
The Rest of the List
Just three teams outside the SEC. Two teams made the list from the Big Ten, though we doubt they will give each other a high five or fist bump. One school from the ACC made the list. The Big 12, Notre Dame, and everyone else got shut out.
- #2 Ohio State Buckeyes: Not bad, but can it help them beat the “team up north”?
- #6 Michigan Wolverines: Speaking of the “team up north,” the Wolverines are becoming big NIL players. Thanks, Oracle.
- #9 Clemson Tigers: Dabo can’t cry poor anymore, he also should lose three games in the ACC next year.
Main Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
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