College football’s spending race has gone fully public, and Kentucky’s place in it is easy to spot.
A new Athletic report, built from conversations with more than 70 sources across the sport, takes a hard look at what Power 4 schools are pouring into their 2026 rosters. The broad takeaway is blunt: the programs spending the most are giving themselves the best shot at the College Football Playoff.
That won’t shock anybody who has watched the sport over the last few years. But seeing the figures laid out makes the gap feel even bigger.
For Kentucky, the picture is mixed. Across all Power 4 schools, the Wildcats land in the middle.
Inside the SEC, though, it’s a different story. UK checks in 15th out of 16, with only Arkansas below it.
The Athletic estimates Will Stein spent between $23-26 million on his first Kentucky roster.
The top end of the market is a different world entirely. Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, LSU, Texas A&M, Miami (FL), and Notre Dame are all believed to be spending $40 million or more.
Louisville, meanwhile, is said to be in roughly the same range as Kentucky. Boston College is the only Power 4 program The Athletic believes may be operating below the $10 million mark.
For Kentucky, the report underscores just how much ground it has to make up within its own league. The Wildcats are around the middle nationally, but in SEC terms they’re clearly lagging behind the heavy hitters. That reality helps explain why the school hired J Batt as athletic director, with the expectation that he’ll help push more money toward football if the arms race keeps escalating.
Justin Rowland offered more context on what the numbers mean for UK Football over on KSR+.
The bigger question hanging over all of this is whether the model can hold. Some teams are thought to be spending more than $50 million this season, which raises the obvious issue of how long donors and backers will keep paying those bills. If it passes, the Save College Sports Act would at least set some rules in place, even if they’re far from perfect.
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Kentuckys 2027 Class Still Hinges On Two Huge Frontcourt Battles
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The biggest swing now comes down to a pair of major battles for size and upside, with Kentucky still involved on several high-end targets who are weighing multiple programs. CJ Rosser and Lewis Uvwo both have official visits scheduled, and their decisions will go a long way toward showing whether this class becomes a solid foundation or something much more imposing. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Already Chasing A Guard Mark Pope Could Covet Long-Term
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Pettigrew has built his reputation through strong showings in high school and AAU play, where evaluators have pointed to his ability to score, defend and affect winning in a variety of ways. For Kentucky, the appeal is obvious: a guard with that kind of competitive drive and all-around impact is the type of prospect worth tracking closely, even if the road from here is still a long one. [Read more 🡒]
Malachi Moreno Is Fueling New Buzz Around Kentucky Ahead Of Big Blue Madness
As Kentucky gets ready for Big Blue Madness, there is a little extra intrigue around how the Wildcats stack up heading into the 2026-27 season. Eyan Miyakawa of EvanMiya.com has started previewing his upcoming player and team rankings, and the early read offers a useful snapshot of where the program stands nationally before the full list comes out Friday.
Morenos name is the one generating the most buzz on the Kentucky side, thanks to the projection model behind Miyakawas rankings and the expectation of sophomore growth. For a Wildcats team trying to build momentum around its rising pieces, that kind of placement only adds to the anticipation of what Kentucky might look like once the rankings are fully unveiled. [Read more 🡒]