Oregon football is being sized up as one of the biggest spenders in the sport.
According to a report from The Athletic, the No. 21 Ducks are estimated to have a 2026 player budget of $48 million to $54 million, which would put them in the top three nationally.
That range would make Oregon likely second only to No. 6 Ohio State, whose estimated budget is $49 million to $54 million, and possibly even ahead of No.
1 Texas, listed at $45 million to $55 million.
That figure lands in sharper focus after Oregon’s 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday. The report says the Cowboys’ budget is estimated at $15 million to $20 million.
The Ducks are 1-1 and will host Portland State, which is 0-3, at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Athletic’s report says the chart reflects only money programs generate through athletic department revenue and booster donations. It does not include outside money players may receive through endorsements.
It also notes that the numbers are estimates built from information gathered from sources both inside and outside the programs, since schools generally do not make those figures public.
Oregon State is not included in the report, but the Beavers’ 35-24 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday came against a Red Raiders team with an estimated player budget of $38 million to $42 million, which ranks 11th nationally. Oregon State led 24-21 in the fourth quarter before falling.
The report also lists several other teams with top-10 budgets, using AP rankings alongside the figures: No. 7 LSU at $49 million to $54 million, No.
9 Texas A&M at $45 million to $50 million, No. 5 Miami at $44 million to $50 million, No.
3 Notre Dame at $41 million to $48 million, No. 8 Ole Miss at $39 million to $45 million, No.
15 Tennessee at $49 million to $54 million, and No. 10 Alabama at $38 million to $42 million.
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