College basketball has entered a new reality in the NIL era. Programs are forced to up their roster spend year after year just to remain competitive. Kentucky reportedly had the most expensive roster in the sport last season at $22 million — a number that upwards of a dozen teams are already projected to reach or surpass in 2026-27.
But just how much are the biggest spenders actually shelling out, and how wide is the gap between college basketball’s haves and have-nots?
CBS Sports insider Matt Norlander shared, via The Assist with Kyle Tucker, the latest figures he’s heard from coaches around the country, including which team nearly set a new benchmark with a $30 million roster spend this offseason.
