Teams around the country are spending more and more money to attract the top talent in college basketball. On Monday, Texas head coach Sean Miller shared his prediction that as many as 20-25 colleges will have a roster that costs upwards of $20 million next season.
Last season, Kentucky turned heads with the most expensive roster in college basketball history, as Mark Pope reportedly spent $22 million on his team that finished seventh in the SEC. Next season, Miller believes quite a few colleges will top the Wildcats’ spending.
Sean Miller Predicts 20-25 Colleges Will Have a $20 Million Roster Next Year
During his appearance on “The Field Of 68: After Dark” with Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman, the Longhorns head coach estimated that we could see as many as 20-25 college teams field rosters that cost more than $20 million next season.
“I think that we competed at a very high level. University of Texas is investing in our basketball program to allow us to compete for the top prize,” Miller said. “I think we’re in a company of about seven or eight [schools] where guys are really along the same lines as us. But I don’t know, educated guess? Sometimes you don’t have all the information. How many? I’d say 20-25.”
How many 20+ million dollar rosters are there in college basketball this offseason? Sean Miller’s perspective:
“Educated guess? Sometimes you don’t have all the information… I would say 20-25.” 👀
🎥: https://t.co/kRYnhn5fpC pic.twitter.com/nG8CMfoVOg
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) May 4, 2026
Goodman was surprised by Miller’s prediction and noted how quickly things have changed in college sports.
“That’s crazy! Think about where we were a year ago and where we are now. I don’t think anybody anticipated this happening,” Goodman responded.
The NIL rules and last year’s House v. NCAA settlement have vastly changed the college basketball landscape. That settlement took effect in July and allowed colleges to start paying their athletes directly.
The effects of the settlement were already visible last year, when several top colleges spent upwards of $10 million on their rosters. The Michigan team that won the national championship reportedly cost more than $10 million, and head coach Dusty May said recently that he expected the Wolverines roster to be even more expensive this year.
An increasing number of players entered the transfer portal this year, while only 71 players declared for the NBA Draft — the fewest number of prospects to enter the draft since 2003.
Top players can now command big money from interested programs. And as teams jostle for top talent, they know they must pay up or risk missing out on competing at a high level, which can, in turn, affect their revenue streams.
