Nathan Holliman| NILvana Sports Contributor
The University of Texas just reminded the college football world that money talks loudly when it comes to high-stakes recruiting in the NIL era.
The Longhorns secured a verbal commitment from five-star 2026 running back Derek Cooper, a game-breaking prospect whose recruitment sparked headlines not just for his talent, but for what it reportedly took to land him. According to On3’s Justin Wells, Cooper was offered both a “big” NIL package and immediate playing time. These two factors are the cornerstones of modern recruiting leverage.
And Texas, it seems, has plenty to offer on both fronts.
Estimates place the current NIL spending for Texas football’s 2025 roster at an eye-popping $22.3 million. Leading the charge is quarterback Arch Manning, whose On3 NIL valuation of $6.8 million is the highest in all of college football. He surpasses the next closest player by more than $2.5 million. It’s a number that is staggering not only for its size, but for what it represents. This is the new gold standard in college football’s evolving pay-for-play landscape.
While the NCAA and various federal officials continue to debate how to define amateurism, the reality is clear. Programs willing and able to invest the most are quickly gaining the upper hand.
NIL or NFL? The Changing Value of a College Commitment
For a player like Cooper, the decision to commit to Texas isn’t just about game day success and NFL dreams. It’s also about financial security. With the average NIL valuation for Texas’ current 2026 commitments hovering around $184,000, Cooper is entering a situation that rivals professional minor league deals. He also gets national exposure and a direct path to the NFL.
At what point does this stop being recruitment and start looking like free agency?
The lines are increasingly blurred, especially as NIL collectives grow more structured. What was once an under-the-table benefit whispered through booster circles is now a publicly managed contract ecosystem. Collectives like Texas’s The Fund or Tennessee’s Spyre Sports Group operate with professional-level resources and transparency. Donors, alumni, and local corporate sponsors often support these groups.
Equity or Escalation? The Looming Legal Debate
This financial arms race raises real questions about equity in college athletics, not just between individual athletes.
Schools with wealthy donor bases or media exposure, like Texas, USC, or Georgia, are in a position to outbid smaller programs. Even with recent legislative and executive efforts to level the playing field, including President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at promoting equity for women’s and Olympic sports, the NIL environment remains deeply imbalanced.
This leads to the most pressing legal question in college athletics today. Are athletes employees?
While Cooper’s commitment grabs headlines, it also sharpens that question. If schools can support six—or seven-figure NIL packages, can they still argue that athletes are simply students first? The upcoming guidance from the National Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor may finally clarify this.
What Comes Next?
For now, Texas is surging forward. The Longhorns’ NIL strategy has helped them secure elite talent at a time when every program is searching for a competitive edge. With a move to the SEC on the horizon, Texas is clearly positioning itself for immediate relevance on a national scale.
But for every Derek Cooper who commits, ripple effects spread across the landscape. Smaller programs may struggle to retain talent. Women’s sports and Olympic disciplines may continue to be overlooked. And young athletes, many still in high school, are stepping into a professional-style marketplace with few protections.
Texas isn’t just building a roster. It is building a blueprint for the future of college football, where the path to victory may start with a checkbook.
About the Author
Nathan Holliman is a sports columnist and former student-athlete, currently enrolled at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He specializes in NIL analysis and college athletics policy for NILvana Sports.
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