Sean Miller Shares Perspective on State of NIL in College Basketball

Texas head coach Sean Miller revealed a surprising assumption about how much money is being spent in college basketball.

Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller celebrates a win against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Moody Center. | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

College basketball is changing rapidly. More money is funneling into the sport than ever, drastically changing the DNA of the game. Between a potential expansion of the NCAA Tournament and the growth of the transfer portal, college basketball is unrecognizable compared to a decade ago.

Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller appeared on The Field Of 68: After Dark and made a shocking prediction about the cost of competing, following the Longhorns' own massive investments this offseason.

Sean Miller Guesses How Many Teams Cost $20 Million or More

Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer battles for position against Texas Longhorns forward Nic Codie during the first quarter at the Dick Vitale Invitational game at Spectrum Center. | Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images

A $20 million roster would have been unimaginable five years ago when Name, Image and Likeness deals first started to disperse. What began as a way for players to earn money through sponsorships and capitalizing on their personal branding has quickly become the backbone of roster building and recruitment.

Miller shared how many teams he thought had cleared the $20 million mark, which seems to be the price tag for the elite. He said that even compared to a year ago, things have drastically changed.

“Educated guess — sometimes you don't have all the information. How many of [$20 million]? I would say 20 to 25,” Miller said.

“We want to compete for the top prize in our own conference, and I think if you're able to do that, you want to compete for the top prize in college basketball, which is a Final Four, a national championship. … There's a lot of people in this country, from the West all the way through, that are really competing to be the best and to invest a great deal.”

Texas Longhorns Among Biggest Spenders in 2026

Texas Longhorns guard Dailyn Swain and head coach Sean Miller celebrate a win against the Vanderbilt Commodores after the game at Moody Center. | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

Miller did not single out any programs, but he did share a glimpse into the budget that Texas has for its men’s college basketball team.

“[The] University of Texas is investing in our basketball program to allow us to compete for the top prize, and I think we're in the company of about seven or eight [that] are really along the same lines as us,” Miller said.

According to Pete Nakos of On3, some programs believed to approach or exceed the $20 million mark in 2026 include Texas, Duke, Tennessee and Louisville. Meanwhile, Indiana, North Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn and Houston are others that are not too far off.

One of the Longhorns’ biggest additions over the offseason was forward David Punch. The rising junior entered the transfer portal after a successful sophomore season with TCU, averaging over 14 points per game and receiving All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

TCU Horned Frogs forward David Punch runs a drill during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

According to On3, Punch has an estimated NIL valuation of $1.8 million. Punch lands within the top 40 athletes in the nation, regardless of sport, and among the top 10 returning men’s college basketball players.

Meanwhile, his new teammate, Isaiah Johnson — a rising sophomore guard from Colorado who was one of the most dynamic scorers in the portal — is also ranked inside the top 100 athletes with a valuation of $1.3 million.

Even as things change, Miller is not worried about how it affects his approach to team building and recruiting: “All the NBA coaches that I respect … the one common theme they all end on with me is, ‘Look, the best, they want to be coached, they want to be pushed.’”

Still, the current state of NIL and its impact on college basketball muddy the waters for coaches and recruiters; it has also made it harder for mid-majors to keep up with the blue bloods. However, as things change, Texas is taking advantage of the situation and putting itself firmly in the race to the top.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.