With just four teams left alive in the College Football Playoff, many fans of misfortunate squads have turned their attention to the next phase of their teams’ futures: transfer portal season!
In the new age of college football, the opening of the January transfer portal window will create roster movement across the nation, and new data suggests Texas’ premiere programs are positioned to wield strong influence.
According to an analysis by SportsCasting, the Texas Longhorns lead the nation in estimated available Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) spending for transfer portal acquisitions, with a projected $23 million budget—the highest of any squad in the country.
That $23-million-figure places Texas ahead of other traditional powerhouses like Ohio State (second place, $20 million), Oregon (third place, $19 million) and Georgia (fifth place, $17.5 million).
As has become commonplace in the last decade of college football, the Aggies are not far behind the top teams in terms of investment. Texas A&M also ranks among the nation’s elite, coming in fourth overall at $18.5 million.
Combined, Texas and Texas A&M account for over $41 million in estimated NIL spending availability from the transfer portal cycle alone this year.
Another Texas program, Texas Tech, appears at No. 15 with an estimated $11-million transfer portal budget, placing it ahead of other traditional contenders like Florida State, Ole Miss and Nebraska.
As many college football fans would expect, the full top 20 list is dominated by the Southeastern conference, with 11 of the top 20 spenders coming from the SEC. The Big Ten was also well-represented, taking six spots.
The rankings reflect estimated available NIL funds specifically for the January transfer window, not overall athletic department revenue or long-term NIL commitments.
Texas stands out as the only state with three programs represented — and two in the top five.
With the Longhorns preparing to fully establish their SEC presence and Texas A&M continuing to invest heavily under third-year head coach Mike Elko, the numbers suggest the battle for elite transfer talent may increasingly run through the Lone Star State.
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