In the current college football money race, Tennessee is spending at a level that keeps it in the upper tier nationally - just not at the very front of the pack.
A report from The Athletic puts the Vols above the $40 million mark for this year’s roster, a figure that lands them ahead of Texas Tech, Alabama, USC, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Georgia and several other prominent programs. But even with that kind of investment, Tennessee is still chasing the biggest spenders in the sport.
Ohio State sits at the top of The Athletic’s list, with Texas and Oregon close behind at more than $50 million. Tennessee is also behind LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Ole Miss.
The Athletic said the estimates came after reaching out to 70 sources across college football, a reminder of just how closely protected these roster numbers are.
For Tennessee, the spending picture gets a little more complicated when you look at who is actually on the field. According to On3, edge rusher Chaz Coleman signed a $2 million deal this offseason, but he was medically disqualified and is no longer with the program. The Vols paid only a small portion of that contract and are no longer responsible for the full amount, though it still represents money that could have gone elsewhere.
On3 also lists quarterback George MacIntyre at $1.6 million. He may still have a role to play, but for now he is behind Faizon Brandon on the depth chart.
Other Tennessee players with notable deals, per On3, include 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 at $1 million apiece, cornerback Ty Redmond at $850,000 and wide receiver Braylon Staley at $750,000.
In Other News...
Tennessee's Kennesaw State Game Has A Knoxville Twist Fans Will Notice
No. 14 Tennessee gets a familiar-tinged matchup in Week 3 when Kennesaw State comes to Neyland Stadium on SEC Network, with the two programs meeting for the first time. For Vols fans, the interest goes beyond a nonconference game against a new opponent, because this one comes with a Knoxville connection tucked into the Owls roster.
Kennesaw State redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Kinney is a former Bearden High School athlete, giving the trip to Knoxville a little extra meaning. Kinney has already seen game action for the Owls and has handled both field goals and extra points, so even in a game that figures to draw attention for Tennessees side, there is at least one local name worth keeping an eye on once the ball gets kicked. [Read more 🡒]
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Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion projected for 2028-2029, giving fans plenty of time to debate what the area around the stadium will look like once the dust settles. For a place so tied to game days and tradition, the scale of the change is hard to ignore, and the questions around how the new district will fit alongside the existing atmosphere are likely to linger well beyond the announcement. [Read more 🡒]
Which Former Vol Delivered Week 1s Biggest NFL Moment
Opening week of the NFL season turned into a showcase for several former Tennessee standouts, with Josh Palmer delivering the kind of moment that grabs attention well beyond a box score. The Bills receiver came down with the game-winning touchdown, while Trey Smith and Darnell Wright each handled full-time work for their clubs by starting and playing every offensive snap. It was a strong early reminder that Tennessees pipeline to the league still runs through players capable of shaping meaningful games right away.
There was more than one Volunteer footprint across the league, too, as other Tennessee alumni made their debuts or got on the field in season openers. The broader takeaway for Tennessee fans is familiar and encouraging: the programs recent veterans are not just hanging around NFL rosters, they are showing up in roles that matter. Even with one headline moment stealing the spotlight, Week 1 offered a fuller snapshot of how many former Vols are carving out real jobs on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]