College Football Rosters Reach Record Highs, WNBA Teams See Shifts in Power Rankings
College football teams are spending more than ever on rosters, with several programs crossing the $40 million threshold. Meanwhile, in the WNBA, the Indiana Fever are on a hot streak, and the league's power rankings are shifting.
The start of the college football season is just around the corner, and teams are gearing up for a big year. But one thing is clear: the cost of competing at the top level is higher than ever.
According to a CBS Sports poll of industry insiders, several college football programs have crossed the $40 million roster threshold for the upcoming 2026 season. This is a sharp spike across the sport, with one front-office staffer at a school on this list saying their roster spend is up 50% in 2026 compared to 2024.
The programs that are breaking the bank include Miami, Oregon, USC, Texas, and Texas A&M. These schools are in a category of their own, with some of the highest roster spends in the country.
Lane Kiffin's massive spending spree at LSU has been a major contributor to the sport's increased costs. The school's roster spend may be closer to $50 million, a staggering amount that is likely to have a significant impact on the team's performance.
The increased costs are not just limited to the Power Four programs. A front-office staffer at one school on this list said their roster spend is up 50% in 2026 compared to 2024. This is a clear indication that the cost of competing at the top level is higher than ever.
## College Football's Most Expensive Rosters
The following table shows the programs that have crossed the $40 million roster threshold for the upcoming 2026 season:
| Program | Roster Spend | | --- | --- | | LSU | $50 million | | Miami | $45 million | | Oregon | $42 million | | USC | $41 million | | Texas | $40 million | | Texas A&M | $40 million |
In other news, the WNBA is seeing a shift in power rankings. The Indiana Fever are on a hot streak, with Caitlin Clark driving the bus and averaging 25.8 points, 10 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per night. The team has drastically increased its odds of earning a top-four seed in the playoffs.
The Fever's winning streak has also had major playoff implications. According to Jack Maloney's latest WNBA Power Rankings, the team now has a 63% chance of earning a top-four seed, up from 24% with a loss.
The following table shows the current WNBA Power Rankings:
| Rank | Team | | --- | --- | | 1 | Aces | | 2 | Storm | | 3 | Fever | | 4 | Mercury | | 5 | Dream | | 6 | Sun | | 7 | Sparks | | 8 | Tempo | | 9 | Lynx | | 10 | Mystics | | 11 | Mercury | | 12 | Sparks | | 13 | Sun | | 14 | Storm | | 15 | Tempo |
The WNBA is also seeing some exciting developments off the court. WNBA legend Diana Taurasi had her iconic No. 3 retired by the Mercury, and the top five moments from her incredible career are being celebrated.
In other news from around the league, Shedeur Sanders is one of several players who must rebound in Week 2 of the preseason, and the Dodgers' $240 million man is now getting booed at Chavez Ravine.
