Player compensation -- give me a budget

[grover]

I grabbed the Team Talent Composite for the Top 8 schools from 24/7. Their last update for this was from 2021 team roster. Removing LSU, which had only 75 kids on roster, the average Top 8 team has

* 11 5-stars
* 48 4-stars
* 26 non-bluechippers

Where do you think the annual roster compensation for such a team settles? Include both NIL and bags for those good-ole-boy programs that can't create legit NIL companies

As an example, 1M per 5-star, 250K per 4-star and 100K for the rest calculates to a Top 8 average roster budget of 11M (5*) + 12M (4*) + 2.6M (other) = $25.6M. According to this math, Georgia would need a budget of roughly $33M.

How many programs could afford something like that, and is it enough, too much or too little?


24/7 Team Talent Composite (2021)

Team	Roster	5-stars	4-stars	Rest
Alabama	85​	14​	60​	11​
Georgia	85​	19​	47​	19​
Ohio State	85​	16​	49​	20​
Clemson	82​	10​	40​	32​
Oklahoma	83​	7​	45​	31​
Florida	85​	6​	50​	29​
Texas A&M	85​	5​	43​	37​
Average	84​	11​	48​	26​
LSU (#5)	75​	6​	43​	26​

 

[RightSaidFred]

Have heard about 20-30 million per year as a number floating around for a top 5 class.

That number gets you the kids for the full 3/4 years they’re in school, so that’s your annual cost once you have four classes in at that rate

 

[GojiraCane]

Have heard about 20-30 million per year as a number floating around for a top 5 class.

That number gets you the kids for the full 3/4 years they’re in school, so that’s your annual cost once you have four classes in at that rate

The question will be once you’re willing to spend, what is the willingness of an Alabama or Texas A&M to up the ante?

Let us say you budget $45M because you want to ensure you get everyone that you want. Just because A&M spent $30M does not mean that they would not escalate themselves. They might increase their budget to $50M or $60M, as players salaries can grow rapidly (as seen in the NBA in the mid 1990s). So now the ball is back in your court - how high are you now willing to go?

It’s one thing to try to be a disruptor in this environment, but the ability and willingness of the schools that you listed makes the ultimate answer difficult. There is of course an upper limit for all schools, but it might be $50M. Or it might be $250M.

We will know in about a decade.

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Don't forget to factor in $$$ these first couple years for guys already on the roster who didn't get that NIL on the way in. Plus, keep some spare change for the 3*/4* players who outperform their initial NIL.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

Have heard about 20-30 million per year as a number floating around for a top 5 class.

That number gets you the kids for the full 3/4 years they’re in school, so that’s your annual cost once you have four classes in at that rate

While those numbers may eventually be attained, we are currently looking at $25M for a Top 1 class and $15M for a Top 5 class.

 

[Go Canes!!]

 

[RightSaidFred]

While those numbers may eventually be attained, we are currently looking at $25M for a Top 1 class and $15M for a Top 5 class.

You’re probably right, I’m not plugged in at all to the costs.

Either way, it’s definitely in the realm of doable for Miami in its current state, with Ruiz and friends supporting the program. We are lucky

 

[grover]

While those numbers may eventually be attained, we are currently looking at $25M for a Top 1 class and $15M for a Top 5 class.

Is that 15 M every year for 25 kids? Because if you then apply it to the entire roster of 85 it’s 15 * 85/25 = 51M or 600k per player on the roster.

That’s a huge increase over what we suspect Bama, Georgia, A&M and Clemson were paying their players with bags. No inside Info. But I always though their bag budgets for the entire team were in the 5-10 range.

 

[The U is back to work]

Have heard about 20-30 million per year as a number floating around for a top 5 class.

That number gets you the kids for the full 3/4 years they’re in school, so that’s your annual cost once you have four classes in at that rate

Such an absurdly high number to have a $80-100m roster for CFB given what the NFL makes and where their salary cap is.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

You’re probably right, I’m not plugged in at all to the costs.

Either way, it’s definitely in the realm of doable for Miami in its current state, with Ruiz and friends supporting the program. We are lucky

No problem-o, those numbers are fairly accurate, though you could conceivably come in a bit lower if you land a couple of great ones who aren't looking for max money. Like, I don't think Arch Manning was prioritizing NIL offers on his visits, I think he will generate NIL opportunities on his own.

Ruiz needs friends, though, he doesn't need to be funding that all on his own. Time to collect the efforts.

 

[Rellyrell]

I think right now the market is in an influx w/ no real gage. Just look at the innocent TAMU situation that’s now leaking. The question will be, what’s the ROI on this situation? The ROI is not ticket sales, it’s wins & championships. The market will eventually correct itself, just like every market. I would probably ask this same question starting next season. TAMU has a giant bull eyes & scope on them. If they don’t win at least 10 games this yr, the question will become, what was it all for?

 

[TheU1984]

Lunch money for Ruiz.

 

[Calinative]

You know when you actually think about it and break it down, if the average class is 25 guys, even $10M/class would average $400k/player (and over 4yrs with 85 scholarship players thats $470k/player) - which is a lot. So I doubt that we'll be spending that much money. The best way to figure out our budget is to just find out how much we're willing to pay a top Qb like Rashada to come here. Because chances are the amount we spend on a QB is around 20-40% of the overall budget. If We were willing to spend $1M on Rashada (per year), that would place our budget in the $2.5m-$5m. $2.5m/yr would be really low. If we were willing to spend $2M/yr on rashada that'd be in the $5m-$10m range. And based on the rumors, we aren't willing to offer Rashada >$2m/yr... if anything the rumors are closer or even below $1m/yr. Basically I'm saying our yearly budget is probably closer $5M/yr Than $10M/yr... if not even less.. That seems like a

Just so you can see how even $5M budget is actually dropping pretty big bags for most players:

QB ~ 1/class	25.0%	$1.25M - $1.25M/player
RB ~ 1.25/class	3%	$150k - $120k/player
WR ~ 4/class	17%	$850k - $213k/player
TE ~ 1.25/class	2%	$100k - $80k/player
OT ~ 2/class	7.0%	$350k - $175k/player
iOL ~ 2.5/class	2.5%	$125k - $50k/player
EDGE ~ 2.5/class	11.5%	$575K - $230k/player
DL ~ 3/class	8%	$400k - $133k/player
LB ~ 2.25/class	4.5%	$225k - $100k/player
CB ~ 3.25/class	14.0%	$700k - $215k/player
S ~ 2/class	5.0%	$250k - $125k/player

Now ask, are we really about to pay an Average of $165k for each defensive recruit this year? Probably not....

 

[9oh4Cane]

Can someone explain to me the ROI for boosters outside of being happy their program is winning? I get that this is lunch money to some of them, but at some point players will be bid so far up that it will be too much to justify.. IMO it’s probably already happening now.. and miss me with “oh they’ll tag the company on their social media” or some ****.. give me a break. How do they see tangible ROI without getting a cut of ticket sales, merchandise rev, etc?? How do they get these absurd numbers to make sense for their pocketbooks?

 

[SSCane]

One thing I don’t get, how come these collectives which are not true NILs, are not subject to ****le 9?
I think there will come a day when the feminanzis are going to want their cut of the cake and these collectives will be seriously diluted and the SEC will once again need to pay under the table.

 

[9oh4Cane]

This bidding war **** is not going to end well for anyone. Toxic locker rooms, boosters who don’t want to keep paying out for a bust, etc. absolutely ridiculous and we’ve gone down such a slippery slope that I think it will be hard to find a fair solution to all of this madness. RIP college athletics

 

[Rellyrell]

Can someone explain to me the ROI for boosters outside of being happy their program is winning? I get that this is lunch money to some of them, but at some point players will be bid so far up that it will be too much to justify.. IMO it’s probably already happening now.. and miss me with “oh they’ll tag the company on their social media” or some ****.. give me a break. How do they see tangible ROI without getting a cut of ticket sales, merchandise rev, etc?? How do they get these absurd numbers to make sense for their pocketbooks?

Thank u for bringing this up. This goes back to whole purpose of NIL, which was for players to get monetary compensation from endorsements, memorabilia sold, autograph signings, images used for advertisement, etc.

Boosters, unless they are using a business as a means for said players to advertise for them, I just don’t see them having any incentives from this besides seeing their favorite team win. So if boosters r spending $$ & not even getting that, I’m just not sure how long NIL in its current state will last. At least w/ Ruiz, his NIL deals r allowing kids to promote his biz; I’m just not seeing that w/ these other collectives.

 

[Cane Tankerous]

You know when you actually think about it and break it down, if the average class is 25 guys, even $10M/class would average $400k/player (and over 4yrs with 85 scholarship players thats $470k/player) - which is a lot. So I doubt that we'll be spending that much money. The best way to figure out our budget is to just find out how much we're willing to pay a top Qb like Rashada to come here. Because chances are the amount we spend on a QB is around 20-40% of the overall budget. If We were willing to spend $1M on Rashada (per year), that would place our budget in the $2.5m-$5m. $2.5m/yr would be really low. If we were willing to spend $2M/yr on rashada that'd be in the $5m-$10m range. And based on the rumors, we aren't willing to offer Rashada >$2m/yr... if anything the rumors are closer or even below $1m/yr. Basically I'm saying our yearly budget is probably closer $5M/yr Than $10M/yr... if not even less.. That seems like a

Just so you can see how even $5M budget is actually dropping pretty big bags for most players:

QB ~ 1/class	25.0%	$1.25M - $1.25M/player
RB ~ 1.25/class	3%	$150k - $120k/player
WR ~ 4/class	17%	$850k - $213k/player
TE ~ 1.25/class	2%	$100k - $80k/player
OT ~ 2/class	7.0%	$350k - $175k/player
iOL ~ 2.5/class	2.5%	$125k - $50k/player
EDGE ~ 2.5/class	11.5%	$575K - $230k/player
DL ~ 3/class	8%	$400k - $133k/player
LB ~ 2.25/class	4.5%	$225k - $100k/player
CB ~ 3.25/class	14.0%	$700k - $215k/player
S ~ 2/class	5.0%	$250k - $125k/player

Now ask, are we really about to pay an Average of $165k for each defensive recruit this year? Probably not....

I'm confused beyond confused... Ruiz publicly disclosed all nil deals, and, other than the basketball player, they're (I believe) all $60,000 OR LESS, per year.

That included TVD, Garcia... everyone.

There is a real big disconnect here!

 

[grover]

You know when you actually think about it and break it down, if the average class is 25 guys, even $10M/class would average $400k/player (and over 4yrs with 85 scholarship players thats $470k/player) - which is a lot. So I doubt that we'll be spending that much money. The best way to figure out our budget is to just find out how much we're willing to pay a top Qb like Rashada to come here. Because chances are the amount we spend on a QB is around 20-40% of the overall budget. If We were willing to spend $1M on Rashada (per year), that would place our budget in the $2.5m-$5m. $2.5m/yr would be really low. If we were willing to spend $2M/yr on rashada that'd be in the $5m-$10m range. And based on the rumors, we aren't willing to offer Rashada >$2m/yr... if anything the rumors are closer or even below $1m/yr. Basically I'm saying our yearly budget is probably closer $5M/yr Than $10M/yr... if not even less.. That seems like a

Just so you can see how even $5M budget is actually dropping pretty big bags for most players:

QB ~ 1/class	25.0%	$1.25M - $1.25M/player
RB ~ 1.25/class	3%	$150k - $120k/player
WR ~ 4/class	17%	$850k - $213k/player
TE ~ 1.25/class	2%	$100k - $80k/player
OT ~ 2/class	7.0%	$350k - $175k/player
iOL ~ 2.5/class	2.5%	$125k - $50k/player
EDGE ~ 2.5/class	11.5%	$575K - $230k/player
DL ~ 3/class	8%	$400k - $133k/player
LB ~ 2.25/class	4.5%	$225k - $100k/player
CB ~ 3.25/class	14.0%	$700k - $215k/player
S ~ 2/class	5.0%	$250k - $125k/player

Now ask, are we really about to pay an Average of $165k for each defensive recruit this year? Probably not....

Makes sense. But that's just one class of 25. If you have a roster of 85, your compensation needs to cover them all. 5M / 25 players = $200K per player * 85 players = 17M total roster. Which is right in the range @TheOriginalCane said when he wrote that 15M gets you to Top 5, 25M gets you to #1 (at least as of today's market conditions).

But I wonder if it's more about how many 5 stars and really high 4 stars your taking, and the #1-#5 guys at each position. I mean, Shemar got a lot more than 230K from A&M from what it's rumored. And Cormani is expecting a lot more than $215K. Those 5-star OTs are asking for a lot more than $175K. All hearsay, I have no inside info. So maybe what they actually get will be much lower. But if it's true, and Mario is bringing home a handful or more of Top 50 kids, #1-5 in the position group, the budget is going to be bumping up against that ceiling pretty quickly.

 

[Cane Tankerous]

Here's Real Life vs Fan Message Board Rumors: