Report: Texas to spend 'between $35 million to $40 million' on 2025 roster

Steve Sarkisian is set to have one of college football’s top rosters heading into the 2025 season. And Texas will reportedly be paying a pretty penny to its players throughout the year.

According to Kirk Bohls of The Houston Chronicle, Texas will spend “between $35 million and $40 million” on the 2025 roster. Players will reportedly be paid through multiple different avenues, including revenue-sharing, once the House settlement is reached. The Longhorns are still using a collective as well.

“It currently sits somewhere, ‘between $35 million and $40 million,’ which counts the likely revenue-sharing allotment expected to be $20.5 million as well as payouts through the Texas One Fund, a connected source tells the Houston Chronicle,” Bohls said.

Bohls went on to add that quarterback Arch Manning is the highest-paid player on the roster “by far” but “doesn’t take a dime from the school.” Manning has signed multiple NIL deals with big-time brands in recent months and Bohls reports everything has been arranged by him and his family. No help has come from the school.

Texas has been recruiting at a high level since Sarkisian took over. Three out of the last four classes have been ranked inside the top five per the On3 Industry Team Rankings. Sixth place had to do during the 2024 cycle, one where the Longhorns signed Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Collin Simmons.

Last cycle saw Texas pull in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, beating out the likes of Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan. Five five-stars and 13 four-stars meant the blue chip ratio for the class sat at 72%. The class’s average NIL Valuation was higher than anyone else too, sitting at $248,000. Michigan was the closest to matching them, coming in at $235,000.

With the reported figures, you have to imagine folks in Austin are now ready for the results to roll in. Last season was considered a success during the first campaign Texas spent as a member of the SEC. Eleven regular season wins earned them a spot in the SEC Championship game and College Football Playoff.

A national championship run was cut short in the semifinals by Ohio State, another team that reportedly spent eye-popping numbers on its roster. Ryan Day saw his squad get over the finish line, being the last team standing in Atlanta, beating Notre Dame. Sarkisian is hoping Texas is next after putting together what appears to be an incredible roster on paper.