School Hub · SEC
Kentucky— Schedule, Roster & News
Estimated NIL Spend
$43M
2025–26 est.
Top Sport
Men's Basketball
$20M
~$20M roster — among the richest in college hoops
Mark Stoops; a budget that headlines most departments
Rising SEC program
Broad funding
Hover any row for total spend & share of program budget.
Kentucky ranks #13 nationally in estimated NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) spending for the 2025–26 athletic year, with a combined budget of $43M across all sports. As a Power 4 program in the SEC, Kentuckycompetes with the nation's top revenue-sharing and collective-funded programs to attract and retain top recruits, transfer-portal talent, and returning starters.
The Sideline's NIL Tracker compiles Kentucky's reported NIL figures from publicly disclosed contracts, collective funding announcements, athletic department reporting, and cross-referenced industry sources. Numbers reflect estimates of Kentucky's 2026 NIL budget allocations including football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, and Olympic sports where applicable. Men's Basketball represents the largest single-sport allocation at $20M.
NIL spending at Kentucky continues to evolve following the House v. NCAA settlement, which permits direct revenue sharing with student-athletes starting in the 2025–26 academic year. Kentucky's figures include both the school's revenue-share allocation and third-party collective deals from boosters and alumni networks. For broader context, view our complete NIL Tracker rankings or compare Kentucky directly to other programs on the NIL Compare tool.
Kentucky is estimated to spend $43M on NIL in the 2025–26 athletic year, including revenue-sharing allocations and third-party collective deals. This ranks #13 nationally among Division I programs.
Kentucky competes in the SEC at the Power 4 level.
Men's Basketball is Kentucky's top NIL-funded sport with approximately $20M in estimated 2026 spending.
Kentucky's $43M NIL budget can be compared against every SEC program and all 357 Division I schools on The Sideline's NIL Tracker.
Kentucky's NIL budget combines two sources: the school's direct revenue-share allocation (capped at roughly $20.5M industry-wide following the House settlement) and third-party collective deals funded by boosters, alumni, and corporate sponsors.
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Michigan's sign-stealing operation involved staffer Connor Stalions buying tickets to opponents' games months in advance and attending in disguise. He was recognized at a Penn State opponent's game. Michigan won the national title that same season.
Stack Kentucky against any other program — side-by-side NIL spend by sport.
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Michigan's sign-stealing operation involved staffer Connor Stalions buying tickets to opponents' games months in advance and attending in disguise. He was recognized at a Penn State opponent's game. Michigan won the national title that same season.