Tennessee has pushed its way into the upper tier of college football spending, and the latest numbers show the Vols are operating in a range that only a handful of programs can match.
According to a report from The Athletic, Tennessee is over the $40 million mark for this year’s roster budget. That puts the Vols ahead of several major brands, including Texas Tech, Alabama, USC, Michigan, Florida, Indiana and Georgia.
Even with that kind of investment, Tennessee is still not at the very top of the sport’s financial ladder. Ohio State is listed first, with Texas and Oregon right behind at more than $50 million. LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Ole Miss are also ahead of Tennessee.
The Athletic said it reached out to 70 sources across college football for its estimates, underscoring just how closely guarded this kind of information usually is.
College football’s most carefully guarded secret is the amount of money flowing to the players on each roster.
So we reached out to 70 sources across the sport.
Estimated budgets for all 68 teams:
- The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 16, 2026
One wrinkle in Tennessee’s spending picture is that two notable pieces of its NIL picture are not actually contributing on the field right now. Edge rusher Chaz Coleman signed a $2 million deal this offseason, according to On3, but he was medically disqualified and is no longer with the program.
Tennessee paid a small portion of that contract, though it is not on the hook for the full amount. Still, that money could have gone somewhere else.
The other name is quarterback George MacIntyre, who could still factor in eventually but is currently the backup behind Faizon Brandon. On3 lists MacIntyre at $1.6 million.
Among Tennessee’s current players with the biggest reported deals, On3 has offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. at $1.7 million. Running back DeSean Bishop, wide receiver Mike Matthews, wide receiver TK Keys and quarterback Faizon Brandon are each listed at $1 million. Cornerback Ty Redmond is at $850,000, and wide receiver Braylon Staley is at $750,000.
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