Danny White reacts to massive reported NIL cost for Texas’ roster: ‘It’s hard to know what’s true’

Tennessee athletic director Danny White heard the news of Texas reportedly spending a pretty penny on their 2025 roster. In response, he wanted to reassure Volunteers fans around the globe that they’re doing everything they can to compete in the SEC.

According to Kirk Bohls of The Houston Chronicle, Texas will spend “between $35 million and $40 million” on the 2025 roster. Players will reportedly be paid through multiple different avenues, including revenue-sharing, once the House settlement is reached. The Longhorns are still using a collective as well.

“It currently sits somewhere, ‘between $35 million and $40 million,’ which counts the likely revenue-sharing allotment expected to be $20.5 million as well as payouts through the Texas One Fund, a connected source tells the Houston Chronicle,” Bohls said.

Bohls went on to add that quarterback Arch Manning is the highest-paid player on the roster “by far” but “doesn’t take a dime from the school.” Manning has signed multiple NIL deals with big-time brands in recent months and Bohls reports everything has been arranged by him and his family. No help has come from the school.

With that in mind, White claimed that it’s tough to pinpoint which reports are true, and which ones are exaggerated. Tennessee’s numbers might not be as gaudy, but the Volunteers leader spoke about the unique situation college football is in regarding NIL and roster building in response to the news coming out of Texas.

“I think it’s hard to know what’s true,” White told the media, via Volquest. “Numbers have been thrown out. We are as competitive as anyone else in the NIL space. We came out the gate as a leader, and continue to have our foot on the gas. Knowing how our resources have grown — in the last four years, we’ve grown from $140 million in annual revenue, to where when we close our books this year, closer to $280 million, almost double. That’s this fanbase. That’s why we’re here doing this.

“Whatever the rules of engagement are, if it’s about investing in our teams, and making sure that they have every advantage possible, that’s what we’re going to do. We’re a competitive administration. We have competitive coaches. We’re not generating all this revenue to make me feel good, we’re generating revenue to investment in our programs and compete at a high level.”

All told, it’s tough to argue with Danny White, as Tennessee has been doing everything it can to compete for a national title on the football field. We’ll see how the Volunteers do in 2025, but after making the College Football Playoff last season, the goal will certainly be to make a bit of a run this season.