Details emerge on LSU football's NIL budget, spending for 2025 season

Come the fall, LSU will find itself as a highly ranked preseason team with expectations of doing well in the SEC. Brian Kelly has put together a roster many believe is capable of contending after a down year in 2024. In today’s game, that means some money was spent to acquire those players but exactly how much?

Kelly recently shared insight on how much money LSU has spent to put together recent rosters. He spoke with Wilson Alexander of The Advocate, saying $26.5 million is the number to put together last year’s roster, the team is putting together for 2025, and looking ahead at the future.

“So far, Kelly said that $26.5 million combined has been allocated for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 teams,” Alexander said. “About $13 million has come from LSU’s NIL collective the past few months. Kelly did not specify how that money was divided but we know a chunk went to the 2024 team and a significant portion went has been used to retain key players, bring in freshmen, and sign the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country.”

LSU finished with another top-10 recruiting class (No. 9) in the 2025 cycle, the third straight under Kelly. Things are already looking good for 2026 as well as the Tigers are currently No. 3 per the On3 Industry Rankings with six commitments — half of which are ranked inside the top 100.

Alexander also mentioned LSU bringing in another loaded portal class. LSU will have 15 fresh faces this spring via the NCAA transfer portal. All but one previously played in a power conference and eight came from other SEC programs.

More help is on the way in Baton Rouge as the NIL collective will soon not be LSU’s lone way of funding the roster. Schools around the country are preparing for revenue sharing, being able to directly pay players for the first time. Kelly shared with Alexander the overall budget and how much football will be receiving.

“The other half of the money is coming,” Alexander said. “Teams are expected to be able to start playing players this summer and similar to their peers, LSU officials have said they are preparing to pay their athletes a projected $20.5 million during the next school. Of that, Kelly expects $13.5 million to go to football.”

LSU will kick off the 2025 season with another headline opener, traveling to Clemson. A team the program has invested in financially, Kelly is hoping the results follow this fall.