College football teams ranked by active NFL career earnings
College football is a powerhouse in American culture, and can often serve as the springboard for the nation’s best players to reach their dream of playing in the NFL.
In today’s landscape where recruiting is more aggressive than ever, conference shakeups and the transfer portal are creating movement seemingly day by day, it’s clear we are living in a new age.
Spotrac, a website specializing on in-depth research about team and player trends, contracts, historical data, deep dives into the business side of sports and more, put together a recent piece ranking the college football programs based on active NFL earnings.
There are certainly some surprises on this list, but the SEC programs at No. 1 and No. 2 are the only schools with active NFL alumni surpassing a billion in active earnings. Let’s dive in, starting at No. 25.
Each school’s active NFL earnings are listed to the right of the program name.
College football money makers by active NFL earnings
25. Miami (Ohio): $327,981,821
The nickname “Big Ben” can apply to several situations. Miami of Ohio actually has three current alumni in the NFL, but Ben Roethliserberger’s earnings are what propel the small program into Top 25. The Steelers’ quarterback has earned $267,286,864. Brandon Brooks accounts for a cool $59 million where Tommy Doyle brings in just $975,724.
24. Washington: $358,281,095
The Huskies have 32 players on the current NFL payroll with a pair of defensive backs leading the money makers. Desmond Trufant and Marcus Peters account for just north of $100 million combined.
23. Michigan State: $361,933,733
Remember that record-breaking Kirk Cousins contract? With just 14 players on active NFL rosters, Cousins has brought in nearly $162 million. Tre Waynes ranks No. 2, making more than $100 million less than Cousins. Michigan State can thank Kirk later.
22. Nebraska: $381,326,306
It’s easy to forget how long Ndamukong Suh has been around and the former Cornhusker has brought home $164,965,157, leading the 19 Nebraska alums currently in the NFL.
21. UCLA: $387,871,108
UCLA has 27 players in the league. But unlike other programs, there isn’t a single player making the bulk of the nearly $400 million the former Bruins are bringing in.
20. Boston College: $394,253, 095
Matt Ryan has made more than $267 million during his 13-year NFL career and is one of the biggest reasons reason Boston College cracks the Top 25.
19. Penn State: $413,118,635
Penn State is tied with Clemson and Iowa with 37 current NFL alumni under contract. Allen Robinson leads the way accounting for roughly $65 million but the Nittany Lions have a bulk of guys with solid contracts.
18. Iowa: $466,645,716
Like the Big Ten itself, it all starts with the hog mollies up front. Of the 37 Hawkeyes getting direct deposits from NFL teams, the top three are all offensive linemen.
17. USC: $502,864,637
This isn’t the Reggie Bush era. A trio of big men in the trenches — offensive tackle Tyron Smith and defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Everson Griffin — are the top USC earners in the NFL.
16. Stanford: $523,467,813
Stanford is responsible for an impressive 32 current NFL contracts highlighted by Richard Sherman’s nearly $83 million. Zach Ertz and Christian McCaffrey are also high on the list.
15. South Carolina: $523,467,813
The Gamecocks have 31 players in the NFL and have a proven track record of producing defensive stars with staying power. Stephon Gilmore, Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney are racking in some serious money.
14. Florida State: $559,665,086
A center is the highest earning Florida State alum in the NFL — the Arizona Cardinals’ big man in the middle Rodney Hudson ($71,553,707) is just ahead of Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($67,141,078).
13. Mississippi State: $588,222,778
It’s no surprise a popular Dallas Cowboys quarterback, fresh off a new contract, is helping propel Mississippi State into the top tier teens of college football programs with players making big bucks in the NFL.
12. Miami (FL): $596,886,391
Calais Campbell continues to play at a high level and continues to get paid. The Ravens’ defensive end is the Hurricanes’ highest earner by far with more than $126 million in his wallet since getting drafted in 2008.
11. Clemson: $603,803,084
It feels like Clemson should be higher on this list with 37 players in the NFL. Keep in mind, Dabo Swinney has been responsible for the recent surge so there are a ton of young players on team-friendly contracts, including the most recent No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Cardinals receiver Deandre Hopkins is arguably the top pass catcher in the league and accounts for nearly $100 million.
10. Wisconsin: $615,684,135
Russell Wilson and J.J. Watt. The two NFL superstars with the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, respectively, account for more than $296 million. Fresh off a new deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker T.J. Watt isn’t too far behind.
9. Florida: $616,764,862
The Gators have a knack for producing NFL talent with 39 players currently collecting paychecks. Steelers cornerback Joe Haden is the highest earner with more than $121 million in his pocket.
8. Texas A&M: $617,254,741
Denver Broncos defensive end Von Miller has been battling injuries of late so we forget he’s brought in more than $144 million. Remember that Ryan Tannehill contract? The Titans QB ranks just behind Miller making just under $140 million.
7. Oklahoma: $634,693,504
Of the 34 Sooners in the NFL, nobody has made more than San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams ($140,573,341). It’s wild to see both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray sitting just north of $30 million so far, but quarterbacks get paid and both young passers will surely climb the list.
6. Notre Dame: $648,824,361
Notre Dame is one of the most iconic brands in college football and it turns out the Irish have a solid track record of producing NFL talent (43 active players). Ronnie Stanley, Harrison Smith and Zack Martin are making the most money in their careers at this point.
5. Michigan: $712,999,782
Tom Brady. Behind the GOAT (who accounts for just over $291 million) there are 39 former Wolverines with names like Brandon Graham, Taylor Lewan and Frank Clark ranking at the top of earners. Oh, and Brady’s former Michigan teammate Chad Henne is No. 5 with roughly $36.5 million.
4. Cal: $887,498,276
Cal has taken a much different path than the three high-earners above them. The 18 current NFL players are long-tenured stars who have landed big-time contracts. Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff are leading the way, accounting for $378 million combined. The next tier of DeSean Jackson, Cameron Jordon and Keenan Allen paint a clearer picture.
3. Ohio State: $982,458,331
Ohio State has the second-most showing of former players in the NFL with 58, eight less than No. 1 Alabama. Imposing defensive linemen Cameron Hayward and Joey Bosa lead the Buckeyes’ highest earners with Dallas Cowboys running back Zeke Elliot ranked No. 4.
CFB’s billionaire NFL club
2. LSU: $1,048,526,559
With 50 former players active on NFL rosters, the Tigers are one of two SEC programs with current NFL players making more than a billion combined. The leader may surprise you, but veteran Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth is a 15-year NFL veteran who has netted nearly $103 million. Tenured Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson is just behind him.
- Alabama: $1,192,725,480
This should be no surprise, but Alabama has the most NFL players currently on the league payroll with 66. But it’s the massive contracts from several former Tide offensive standouts that are truly eye-popping, with veteran Julio Jones leading the way with $140,640,527 in career earnings. The next player behind him, fellow receiver Amari Cooper, accounts for nearly half of that, with $76,672,334 to his financial credit.