SEC HC Predicts CFB Rosters Will Cost $45M for 2027 Season as Big 12 Coach Shades Mets

The rising costs for talent is being felt across college football, with one SEC head coach saying that $45 million will be the average roster price for schools next year and an assistant coach in the Big 12 is curious if teams will always hit on their investments.

Speaking to The Athletic's Antonio Morales, the unnamed SEC coach revealed that rosters for 2026 are probably around $40 million on average before offering a prediction for next year.

"The new number in our sport right now is $40 million," the coach said. "That's for the '26 season. What's it going to be for the '27 season? I don't know, I think if you're at $40 million this year, I bet you'll be at $45 million next year."

A Big 12 assistant coach shaded the New York Mets while making an analogy about spending successfully.

"You're spending money, but you still have to spend money on the right guys," a Big 12 assistant coach told Morales. "The Dodgers spend a ton of money, but they can also spend it on the wrong guys, and you're the Mets."

Per Pete Nakos of On3.com, there are four programs believed to be spending at least $40 million on their rosters for the upcoming season.

At least 10 college general managers cited LSU as the No. 1 spender in the country after hiring Lane Kiffin as head coach. Miami, Texas and Texas Tech are also believed to have paid over $40 million for talent in the transfer portal.

Per 247Sports transfer rankings, LSU has the top-ranked class in the country and the fifth-most total incoming transfers (40). Princewill Umanmielen, who played for Kiffin at Mississippi, along with Sam Leavitt and Jordan Seaton are the three 5-star recruits transferring to Baton Rouge.

According to Nakos, Leavitt got a $6 million NIL deal from LSU after throwing for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games for Arizona State in 2025.

The point about the Mets is it's very possible to spend a lot of money without results to show for it. They have ranked first or second in MLB in payroll spending every year since 2022, but they have just two playoff appearances in the past four seasons.

New York did win two postseason series in 2024 before losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS.

Based on the four teams Nakos mentioned as being the biggest spenders, their money has provided a strong return on investment for two of them. Miami and Texas Tech both made the College Football Playoff last season.

Texas Tech won the Big 12 title for the first time in program history before losing to Oregon in the CFP quarterfinal. Miami went from being an at-large selection to reaching the championship game, losing 27-21 to Indiana.