Texas A&M Among Top Recruiting Spenders

The Texas A&M Aggies certainly aren't afraid to put their money to good use.

Aug 30, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko pregame against the UTSA Roadrunners at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images | Sean Thomas-Imagn Images

It wasn't all that long ago that the thought of collegiate athletes being paid seemed so foreign, but times have certain changed over the past few years.

Now, collegiate athletes being paid through NIL (name, image and likeness), is the norm after landmark court cases in the past few years. While it's mainly the stars and established players cashing in big, younger players and even high-school recruits are earning decent pay days on their own, and schools better come prepared.

Fortunately, the Texas A&M Aggies, who have a host of NIL money at their disposal, are absolutely not afraid to play ball.

Texas A&M Spent Third-Most Money on Recruiting in 2024

Mar 24, 2024; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies athletic director Trev Alberts looks on in the first half against the Houston Cougars in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images | John David Mercer-Imagn Images

On3 recently released its top 20 recruiting budgets for 2024, which Pete. Nakos described as the "arms race" of college football. Texas A&M came in at third place with a recruiting budget of $4.1 million, albeit a distant third behind Tennessee ($5.3 million) and Alabama ($5.2 million).

Here's the full top 20:

1. Tennessee - $5.3 million
2. Alabama - $5.2 million
3. Texas A&M - $4.1 million
4. Georgia - $4.0 million
5. Oklahoma - $3.8 million
6. Texas - $3.6 million
7. Clemson - $3.1 million
8. Penn State - $2.8 million
9. Washington - $2.8 million
10. Florida - $2.7 million
11. LSU - $2.4 million
12. Oregon - $2.3 million
13. Nebraska - $2.1 million
14. Minnesota - $2.1 million
15. Rutgers - $2.1 million
16. Ole Miss - $2.0 million
17. Illinois - $2.0 million
18. South Carolina - $1.9 million
19. Georgia Tech - $1.9 million
20. USF - $1.9 million

Like every school, Texas A&M has had to adjust to the new costs springing up all over college athletics. Recently, athletic director Trev Alberts even announced a savings plan with budget cuts to certain teams, "right-sizing" the workforce and decreased variable expenses.

“... You first put as the North Star: ‘What is in the best long-term interest of Texas A&M and Texas A&M athletics?’ Period," Alberts said in June. "This is not 'What's in the best interest of Trev Alberts or any other individual or organization.' It has to be, ‘This is about Texas A&M.'"

The new house settlement should create a more even playing field across college athletics, as each school will now distribute $20.5 million in revenue to its student athletes.

However, wealthier schools, such as Texas A&M, should still have an advantage in attracting top-tier talent. With a loaded alumni base, the Aggies appear to be a sleeping giant in the college football landscape, it's just a matter of putting all the pieces together.