The Texas Longhorns are known as one of college football’s top programs. With their rich history and deep resources, many believe they have everything needed to build a powerhouse in Austin. But recently, rumors began to swirl about the size of their NIL budget.
Some reports suggested that Texas was spending far more than others in the race for top talent. However, rather than letting speculation run unchecked, Sarkisian took a direct stance, calling the report “irresponsible” and dismissing it as misleading.
Steve Sarkisian Refutes Report Claiming $40 Million NIL Budget at Texas
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has strongly denied reports claiming that the Longhorns spent $40 million on their football roster for the 2025 season. The controversy began when a Houston Chronicle report suggested that Texas had allocated between $35-$40 million to build its team in late April.
Speaking on SiriusXM’s SEC Radio on Tuesday, Sarkisian expressed frustration over the report, stating that the figure came from one anonymous source and was not accurate. “It was one anonymous source said that’s what our roster was. I wish I had $40 million on our roster. We’d probably be a little better team than we are,” he said.
“It was a little bit of irresponsible reporting… I wish I had 40 million on our roster, we’d probably be a little bit better.”
@CoachSark talked about the report regarding the cost of his roster at #SECSpringMeetings!
@PeterBurnsESPN | @ChrisDoering | @JacobHester18 pic.twitter.com/0DZelKr9SK— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) May 27, 2025
“The idea to think that a lot of other aren’t spending money to get players, it’s the state of college football right now. It is what it is. And we’re fortunate, don’t get me wrong. We’ve got great support. Chris Del Conte, our athletic director, does a fantastic job. And our donors, people, are excited,” he added.
He literally slammed modern-day reporters and the public for blindly believing anything on social media without proper proof.
He admitted, “I’ve watched this for 25 years now, the evolution of Twitter and social media and podcasts — one guy writes an article from an anonymous source that says, that’s what our roster is, and everybody ran it.”
Although he didn’t give an exact number, Sarkisian hinted that the Longhorns’ actual spending is much lower, likely closer to $20 or $25 million. He even joked that with $15 million more, the team could take another step up.
However, he admitted that NIL spending is now a major part of college football. As the season approaches, the conversation around NIL deals and recruiting costs remains intense.
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Sarkisian’s honest take only adds more fuel to the fire, especially with major changes like the House settlement potentially on the way.
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