In a stirring revelation that has sent shockwaves through college football, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti accused a half‑dozen programs of leveraging “unlimited NIL resources” to assemble rosters valued at upwards of $40 million, far beyond what most of the sport can match.
ESPN analyst Adam Breneman then fanned the flames on social media, calling Cignetti’s comments “snitching on teams in college football.” Which elite programs are Cignetti calling out, and what does it mean for competitive balance as revenue-sharing rules remain in limbo?
Adam Breneman Claims Curt Cignetti Is Exposing Schools Like Notre Dame And Miami Over Massive NIL Spending
Adam Breneman first spotlighted Cignetti’s remarks in a TikTok clip, remarking, “Curt Cignetti is calling out the schools cutting massive checks. He named Notre Dame, Miami, and Texas Tech alongside the usual suspects.” Breneman quipped that Cignetti was “snitching on teams that have $40 million rosters,” underscoring the scale of the spending arms race.
View this post on Instagram
In his Instagram follow-up, Breneman doubled down: “He’s calling out teams that have $40 million rosters,” a reference to schools using deep donor networks and third-party collectives to outspend rivals and stockpile talent. The list of six programs he cited—Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame, Miami, and Texas Tech—paints a stark picture of the current hierarchy.
Cignetti clarified the disparity: “I mean if you want to be the best, you’ve got to be able to compete against the best… Right now, I understand it is Oregon, Ohio State, Texas… Texas Tech is because of its oil money. I think Notre Dame’s up there pretty good right now, too. Miami, of course.”
An Arms Race in College Football’s NIL Landscape
The backdrop to Cignetti’s critique is a pending NCAA revenue-sharing settlement that remains unapproved, leaving third-party NIL arrangements effectively uncapped for the 2025 cycle. As one ESPN analysis explained:
“The House settlement states that athletes must report any NIL deal… and that any deal must be for a ‘valid business purpose.’ Power conferences have contracted Deloitte to review booster NIL deals and decide whether each is a legitimate endorsement contract.”
Meanwhile, Texas is poised to set a new benchmark, reportedly elevating its NIL budget from $20 million to $35 million and $40 million for the 2025 roster—an “unsustainable” spike that includes a $20.5 million revenue-sharing allotment. Ohio State, which invested roughly $20 million last season, remains the gold standard in NIL spending.
With a handful of programs enjoying free rein, coaches at mid-majors warn that unchecked spending could hollow out the rest of the sport. The question is whether the looming settlement—and its promise of more regulated revenue sharing—will arrive in time to halt the escalation, or if teams like Notre Dame and Miami will continue to pull further ahead.
KEEP READING: $40 Million Texas Roster Expenditure Rumor Debunked, Based on Curt Cignetti Quote
Cignetti’s call-out, amplified by Adam Breneman, has laid bare an NIL arms race that may redefine competitive balance in college football. As Texas, Ohio State, Oregon—and yes, Notre Dame and Miami—deploy ever-larger war chests, the rest of the FBS waits anxiously for the NCAA’s revenue-sharing framework to curb the excess. Will true parity survive, or is the era of $40 million rosters here to stay?
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
