BIG MONEY: Top NIL Spenders Like Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Miami & Notre Dame Lead College Football

The Portal - Daily College Recruiting and NIL Podcast · Sep 17, 2026 · 25m

Big-spending programs dominate the AP Top 10—are the college football polls simply reflecting the size of NIL payrolls? Brian Smith exposes the striking overlap between the top NIL spenders like Ohio State, Texas, Miami, Notre Dame, and LSU, and this season’s top-ranked contenders. He breaks down The Athletic’s bombshell report on program payrolls, revealing how programs above the $40 million mark have a clear edge in the playoff race. Can tradition-rich teams with smaller budgets still compete, or has college football become pay-to-play?

Key discussions examine under-the-table perks…