Staggering financial report increases stakes for Texas football in 2026

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the spending on college football programs. 

In a story published Thursday, Sportico's Daniel Libit disclosed how much money the Texas Longhorns disbursed on athletics in fiscal 2025. The numbers were eye-popping, to say the least. 

How much did Texas spend on football and other sports in 2025? 

Per Libit, the school's athletic department reported a college-sports record $375.9M in operating expenses — a $50M increase from the previous, record-setting year. The university spent most of that money on its football program. 

"Texas attributed nearly $74M of its expenses to football, $22.4M to men's basketball and $11M in women's basketball," wrote Libit. 

What does this mean for Texas football? 

It must win more. Since hiring Steve Sarkisian as head coach after the 2020 season, the program has returned to national prominence. 

In its first five seasons under Sarkisian, the Longhorns have gone 48-20, making two College Football Playoff trips. In 2025, the Longhorns missed the CFP but went 10-3 and beat the Michigan Wolverines 41-27 in the Citrus Bowl. That marks the third straight season Texas has won 10 or more games. 

That still may not be enough in the mind of many rabid Longhorn fans. They want to end the school's national championship drought. Texas hasn't won a title since the 2005 season, when it beat the USC Trojans 41-38 in the national championship at the Rose Bowl. 

To accomplish that goal, the Longhorns are upping the ante once again. They splurged in the transfer portal, signing wide receiver Cam Coleman and running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. As of Thursday, On3 lists Coleman's NIL (name, image and likeness) valuation at $2.9M. Brown and Smothers aren't included in its rankings. 

More offensive weapons should help Texas quarterback Arch Manning — whose NIL valuation ($5.4M) is the highest in college football — contend for the Heisman. In his first season as a full-time starter, he totaled 37 touchdowns (26 passing, 10 rushing and one receiving). 

On paper, Texas should vie for a national title in 2026. If it fails to make the CFP, however, the school would feel sheepish for blowing all that money.