College football rosters keep getting more and more expensive, but Lane Kiffin’s LSU team might pace the sport in 2026.
Former LSU coach Brian Kelly appeared on SiriusXM College Sports on Friday and claimed that Kiffin’s roster in 2026 will be worth more than $40M in NIL money. That would likely make it one of, if not the most expensive roster in college football history.
Schools are under no obligation to divulge the value of their rosters, so what we know about them is from insider reporting and hearsay. Four years ago, Ohio State coach Ryan Day estimated he would need $13M just to keep his players from transferring. Three years later, their title-winning roster was valued at a reported $20M. If true, Kiffin’s 2026 team will cost double that.
This is one of the reasons LSU wanted Kiffin. He brings in big players, even if they are costly. LSU certainly has the budget to cover them, based on what it is willing to pay the coach.
