the drop. · Oct 22, 2026

Average high-major men's basketball roster now costs $13.5M in NIL spending, CBS Sports research finds

A nearly six-week CBS Sports investigation drawing on more than 100 sources estimates the average NIL roster cost across all 79 Power Five men's basketball programs plus Gonzaga at $13.5 million for the 2026-27 season, roughly double the roughly $7 million average reported a year earlier. The top spending tier — including Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, Illinois, Michigan, and St. John's — features rosters valued at $20 million or more, with Florida's collective valuation reported north of $25 million. A second tier of Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, and Kansas sits just below the $20 million threshold, while a third tier of 16 programs including Auburn, Houston, Gonzaga, and Michigan State occupies the $13–19 million range. The report notes that fifth-year eligibility litigation stemming from a late-June NCAA rule change has complicated roster valuations, and figures reflect maximum earning potential rather than confirmed school expenditures.

We definitely have a well-compensated team this year, but this is really the first year where we've been at the top, in terms of that conversation

From CBS Sports

Why it matters

For service providers: Player service providers and agents gain a clearer picture of market rates by conference and position as they negotiate deals.

For brands: Brands and sponsors evaluating college basketball partnerships now have clearer data on which programs are investing most heavily in roster talent.

For coaches: Coaches and athletic directors can see how their program's reported spend compares to rivals across all major conferences.

For athletes: College basketball players can benchmark their own market value against the spending tiers and position-level figures reported here.

For collectives: Collectives and donor groups can use these benchmarks to gauge whether their program is keeping pace with competitors.

Read the full story at CBS Sports

Sources

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