SEC GM: Texas A&M is spending a fortune to land the nation’s top 2027 recruiting class
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One of the biggest questions surrounding the current state of college football is how to rein in skyrocketing spending. With some athletic departments projected to operate on budgets as high as $500 million, the NIL era has revealed which programs have boosters willing to spend. Recruiting has also become an increasingly expensive endeavor.
Pete Nakos of On3 recently reported on a conversation with an anonymous SEC general manager, who said Texas A&M is setting the pace in spending on the 2027 recruiting class.
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“Rankings aside, we liked a lot of the guys they’re taking,” an anonymous SEC general manager told Nakos. “They took some freaking great players. [Mike] Elko’s a damn good coach. This isn’t going to be Jimbo Fisher all over again.”
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko reacts to a call during the game between the Aggies and the Hurricanes at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The next figure Nakos reported was eye-opening and suggests significant financial backing from the program’s boosters.
“Texas A&M is spending a shit ton — easily $10 million,” the anonymous SEC general manager told Nakos.
Spending $10 million on recruiting is a staggering figure. These aren’t players who have already enrolled on campus. The money is being spent to recruit them.
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Recruiting naturally involves expenses such as travel, meals, and official visits. However, reaching an estimated $10 million before the 2026 football season has even begun is a notable development.
Ironically, Elko previously warned that schools could spend themselves into bankruptcy by chasing success through athletics and NIL. Hearing this type of claim about spending tied to his program is sure to raise eyebrows.
According to multiple recruiting class rankings, Texas A&M currently holds the nation’s top-ranked 2027 class. It will be years before anyone knows whether that reported level of investment ultimately pays off.
For now, Texas A&M’s focus remains on the 2026 season and making a deeper run in the College Football Playoff.
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