The Athletic report estimates NIL spending for top college football programs

A new report from The Athletic, based on investigative research involving over 70 sources, has provided estimates for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) spending across 68 major college football programs. The findings indicate a strong correlation between high NIL allocations and national rankings.

Ohio State leads the nation with an estimated budget between $49 million and $54 million, followed closely by Oregon ($48 million–$54 million) and Texas ($45 million–$55 million). Other top-spending programs include LSU, Texas A&M, and Miami. The report notes that 18 of the 25 highest-spending programs are currently ranked within the Associated Press Top 25.

Among Big Ten programs, Nebraska is estimated to spend between $31 million and $35 million, placing it sixth out of 18 teams in the conference. This level of spending is comparable to programs such as Georgia, Oklahoma, and Clemson.