Kansas basketball is sitting right on the edge of college hoops’ biggest spending bracket, according to a new CBS Sports NIL roster report.
CBS Sports writers Matt Norlander and Isaac Trotter recently laid out the estimated average cost of building a men’s basketball roster in 2026, and the numbers show just how expensive the sport has become. Across the 79 Power Five programs and Gonzaga, the average NIL price tag landed at $13.5 million. The Big 12 checked in a shade below that at $12.7 million, which put the league fourth in average spending behind the SEC ($17.3M), the Big East ($13.6M), and the Big Ten ($12.7M).
The report breaks roster spending into seven tiers, and Kansas landed in Tier 2, the group just under $20 million. That puts the Jayhawks alongside Arkansas, Indiana, and UConn.
Tier 1 is reserved for teams spending $20 million or more, and that list includes Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Louisville, Tennessee, Texas Tech, St. John’s, Michigan, and Florida.
Kansas, though, is described as being extremely close to that top tier. CBS Sports noted that if Trey Kaufman-Renn, Tre White, and Melvin Council Jr. are eligible for the full season, the Jayhawks could climb into Tier 1 later this year.
The report put it this way: “If Kansas is able to roster Trey Kaufman-Renn AND the Jayhawks get Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. eligible for the entire season, our information suggests KU would hit $20 million later this season, but as of this story's publication, the Jayhawks are an eyelash away and literally as close to Tier 1 as possible. (Kansas also boasts the most expensive freshman in college basketball, No. 1 prospect Tyran Stokes).”
That estimate fits the profile of this Kansas roster. Outside of Stokes, the Jayhawks don’t appear to be loaded with future NBA talent, and the transfers they added were productive but were not ranked inside the top 50 in 247Sports’ 2026 transfer player rankings.
Even so, this looks like a roster built for depth, and depth in college basketball comes with a price. Kansas is spending big, and the expectation is that the payoff should match.
In Other News...
UConn Heads Into A Road Test That Could Expose A Lot
A late-October trip to Colorado Springs already asks plenty of a visiting team, and UConn is staring at a road game that could reveal a lot about where it stands. The Huskies will face Air Force on Oct. 31, with Jason Candle spent time this week discussing how to blunt the Falcons run game and how the altitude adds another layer to the challenge.
Air Forces quarterback situation only adds to the uncertainty for UConn, which will have to prepare for a different look than usual and make quick adjustments once the game starts. For Candle and his staff, the bigger test may be handling all the variables at once: the Falcons option-heavy identity, a crowded quarterback room and the thin air that makes every series feel a little longer than the last. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Defense Faces Its Toughest Test At The Perfect Time
Jason Candle sounded pleased with the way UConn handled UMass, but his message this week was less about celebration than repetition. The Huskies have leaned on fundamentals and defensive discipline, and that approach has helped them become sturdier against the run as they get ready for a very different kind of opponent.
Air Force brings the sort of challenge that can expose every missed assignment, with a rushing-heavy attack that demands patience, leverage and constant attention to detail. UConns defensive players say they like the aggressive mindset theyve built, and this week will show whether that edge holds up when the pressure shifts from stopping a conventional ground game to dealing with one of the toughest looks in college football. [Read more 🡒]
UConn May Be Early On A Frontcourt Target Worth Watching
Jack Thelens recruiting picture has changed quickly this fall, and UConn is at least in the mix early for a frontcourt prospect worth monitoring. The four-star center in the Class of 2027 had previously committed to Wisconsin in June before backing off that pledge in mid-October, and he has since made a visit to Storrs as schools around the country reassess where they stand with the big man.
For UConn, the intrigue is less about a finished deal than about getting involved before the market gets louder. There is no public record of an offer from the Huskies yet, but Thelens profile suggests he will draw plenty of attention as his recruitment resets, especially with another Big East program already landing a prized center in Lewis Uvwo, whose commitment to Providence set a new high-water mark for that program's recruiting. [Read more 🡒]