Report: Texas spent 6th most on football recruiting in 2022
The Texas Longhorns spent the 6th most in college football on recruiting during the 2022 fiscal year according to a USA Today report Wednesday.
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Texas spent $2,439,774 according to the report, well behind back-to-back national champion Georgia. The Bulldogs led the SEC — and the country — with $4,506,248 on the books in 2022. Georgia was well ahead of No. 2 Clemson, who spent $3,158,941 in 2022.
The Longhorns ranked second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma. The Sooners spent $2,632,817 last year. Both Oklahoma and Texas are well ahead of the pace in the Big 12, as expected. The No. 3 and No. 4 teams on the books in 2022 in the fast fading Power 5 football conference were West Virginia (32nd overall) and Texas Tech (34th overall).
More importantly for the future, Texas would have ranked No. 5 in the SEC behind Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Oklahoma, and ahead of Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and others.
Of course, spending the most doesn’t always equal the most success. Ohio State and LSU rarely rank among the nation’s best in the category, but recruit top 10 classes and have competed for national titles and College Football Playoff appearances consistently during the last two decades.
The Top 10
1. Georgia – $4,506,248
2. Clemson – $3,158,941
3. Texas A&M – $2,984,168
4. Tennessee – $2,918,691
5. Oklahoma – $2,632,817
6. Texas – $2,439,774
7. Alabama – $2,324,470
8. Michigan – $2,240,064
9. Oregon – $1,836,865
10. Florida – $1,641,330
Texas’ recruiting budget is expected to grow
It is not known how much Texas’ recruiting expenses will grow in 2023 and beyond. But all indications are that the spending will increase substantially with the move to the SEC in 2024.
About its report, USA Today wrote, “that data was revealed in NCAA financial reports obtained by USA TODAY Sports Network in response to open records requests and compiled in partnership with the Knight-Newhouse Data project at Syracuse University. Georgia’s spending far exceeded any other Power 5 public university. In fact, its recruiting budget was at least double that of 45 of the 51 other public schools in Power 5 conferences.”
It added, “Recruiting expenses cover transportation, lodging and meals for recruits, additional personnel for official and unofficial visits, phone charges and postage for pursuing recruits and the value of schools’ vehicles and planes or those used by the school for recruiting. Compensation for coaches and recruiting support staff is not included in the recruiting expenses. …. Varying accounting systems for athletics departments and/or university can result in a lack of uniformity in how these numbers are compiled for financial reports. USA TODAY Sports Network obtained recruiting expenses for Power Five public universities for the past six years.”
