Garrett Nussmeier is getting down to business. The LSU Tigers’ QB1 took the field for Day 3 of Spring Camp in Baton Rouge, leading drills and setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be a defining season for Brian Kelly’s Tigers. There’s an urgency in the air, and not just because the Tigers are coming off a season that left more questions than answers. Something bigger is happening behind the scenes—something that could alter the trajectory of LSU football for years to come. Kelly, a coach who’s never been one to shy away from evolution, knows the game has changed. And like it or not, he’s playing by the new rules.
If there was ever a moment that forced a seismic shift in how LSU operates, it was losing out on one of the most heralded quarterback recruits in recent history. When five-star sensation Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment to Michigan. More than a loss, was a wake-up call. The purple and yellow had to adapt, and they finally did. “If Bryce Underwood’s decision to flip to Michigan was a flashpoint, it’s resulted in a flush of NIL dollars,” said On3’s Pete Nakos. That impact? An unprecedented influx of NIL cash that has transformed LSU’s ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent. The Tigers’ NIL budget has now surged past the $18 million mark, more than doubling from its previous total. It’s a direct response to the new reality of CFB—a reality where top programs must flex their financial muscles or risk getting left behind.
This financial arms race isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about domination. Nakos emphasized that LSU’s boosted NIL resources have already paid dividends, allowing the Tigers to assemble one of the best transfer portal classes in the country. “It’s partially the reason why the Tigers were able to put together an elite portal class, and that’s carried over into the 2026 recruiting cycle,” he wrote. LSU’s portal class ranked No. 6 in the nation, and it’s no coincidence. This winter alone, the Tigers brought in seven players rated as four stars, reinforcing key positions and ensuring they stay competitive in the brutal SEC landscape. But the impact isn’t just immediate—it’s setting up the program for long-term success.
NEW: LSU’s NIL budget has more than doubled in recent months, now north of $18M, @PeteNakos_ reports
“If Bryce Underwood’s decision to flip to Michigan was a flashpoint, it’s resulted in a flush of NIL dollars.”https://t.co/bA2gH7M5Tx pic.twitter.com/cgqFnI5j09
— On3 (@On3sports) March 12, 2025
The 2026 recruiting class is already shaping up to be elite, sitting at No. 3 nationally with six commitments, five of which are four-star recruits. Kelly, never one to sugarcoat the realities of modern college football, acknowledged the changing tides during Early National Signing Day. “It’s not just about finding the right fit where you can develop holistically and graduate and play for a championship,” he said. “It’s about [what’s] the most money I can get, and that’s unfortunate. But it’s the world we live in, and you have to be able to adapt, and you have to be able to realign and be prepared.” That’s as blunt as a head coach can get. College football has entered a new era, one where talent acquisition is often dictated by financial firepower rather than just tradition or on-field success. LSU has accepted that reality and is now positioning itself as a program that won’t be outbid for top talent.
The loss of Underwood might have stung, but it also sparked a necessary evolution. No longer will the Tigers be caught flat-footed in high-stakes recruiting battles. The investment into NIL isn’t just a reaction—it’s a strategic shift aimed at ensuring LSU remains a perennial powerhouse.
Kelly and Co. continue their spring adventures. They do so knowing they are at the center of a program that is adapting at warp speed. The influx of NIL money is already reshaping the roster, and with it, the expectations.
18 Milly is good, but what about Brian Kelly’s roster expense?
LSU will enter the 2025 season as a preseason powerhouse, with sky-high expectations in the SEC. And if you’re wondering how Brian Kelly has built this monster, the answer is simple: big-time investment. Kelly recently spoke with Wilson Alexander of The Advocate and revealed just how much cash has gone into assembling LSU’s recent rosters. The magic number? $26.5 million—spread across the 2024, 2025, and 2026 squads.
“So far, Kelly said that $26.5 million combined has been allocated for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 teams,” Alexander reported. “About $13 million has come from LSU’s NIL collective the past few months. Kelly did not specify how that money was divided, but we know a chunk went to the 2024 team and a significant portion has been used to retain key players, bring in freshmen, and sign the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country.”
Simply put, LSU is playing the NIL game at a championship level. They just wrapped up their third straight top-10 recruiting class (No. 9 in 2025), and with Kelly at the helm, the Tigers are making sure their roster stays stacked. Money talks!
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