After an 8-4 regular season in 2024, Brian Kelly and his staff heavily utilized the transfer portal to revamp the LSU roster for 2025. The class is highly-touted, and has even been listed as the top transfer portal class in the country. It features 18 total players and 11 four-star recruits.
The Tigers also landed a top-ten high school recruiting class. In total, the program brought in plenty of top talent, and in today's college football landscape, doing so comes with a cost.
With the season opener against Clemson a little over a week away, fans are wondering how much LSU spent to put together its 2025 roster. Brian Kelly answered that question on Thursday night during his first radio show of the season.
Kelly said that LSU spent around $18 million to construct its roster for the upcoming season. That's more than triple what the program spent last season.
Higher roster bill means higher expectations for Brian Kelly
LSU more than tripling its total from last season means Kelly doesn't have much room for error. To put it lightly, another 8-4 season isn't going to do him any favors.
In three seasons in Baton Rouge, Kelly has yet to take the Tigers to the College Football Playoff and has appeared in just one SEC title game. After revamping the program's NIL funding and roster construction initiatives, LSU is giving Kelly more and more resources to be successful. But could LSU have done more?
Detailed official college football roster budgets aren't readily available to the public. But, despite the stark increase, LSU's total of $18 million could still be relatively low compared to other big name programs. Earlier this summer, FOX Sports reported that Texas' 2025 roster is set to cost between $35 and $40 million.
Still, LSU more than tripling its roster bill in 2025 signals lofty expectations for Kelly's squad. Fans are hungry for a shot at the SEC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. The time is now for Kelly.
For what it's worth, the Ohio State Buckeyes constructed a National Championship roster with an NIL valuation of about $20 million last season. Tiger fans are hoping LSU's similar budget yields similar results.