The Sideline logoThe Sideline

UC San Diego NIL Market Index | $3.1M 2026

Rankings
School Hub
UC San Diego
#268 Nationally
Big West
Lower-Tier
Sideline Data Desk

UC San Diego

#267 San Diego#269 VCU

Sideline NIL Market Index

Big West · Lower-Tier

2026 Roster Market Estimate
$3.1M
Emerging Market
vs #1 Roster Market ($65.4M)4.7%
#268
National
#5
Conference
Top 75%
Nationally
By Sport
TopMen's Basketball66%
  • Men's Basketball$2.0M66%
  • Other Sports$600K19%
  • Women's Basketball$450K15%

The Sideline owns this index.

Sport pools use The Sideline's conference and active-roster base model. This is our best current point estimate, not school payroll or a signed-contract total.

Full methodology

Player NIL values

Loading...
Public values match linked publishers; all others use the Sideline school-pool model.
School NIL BriefingUpdated August 10, 2026

Inside the UC San Diego NIL market

UC San Diego competes in the Big West at the Lower-Tier level. The Sideline's best current estimate for its varsity-athlete market is $3.1M. This is an independent market estimate, not reported school payroll or a sum of signed contracts.

  • Current market estimate: $3.1M, ranking #268 nationally and #5 in the Big West. The sport pools and active-player allocations reconcile to this one school total.
  • Where the value is concentrated: Men's Basketball $2.0M, Other Sports $600K, Women's Basketball $450K.
  • Evidence behind this page: The estimate uses active-roster composition, current market evidence, recruiting profile, sport economics, and Big West market context. ESPN supplies roster biography data, not NIL values.
  • Latest update: Data refreshed August 10, 2026. The Sideline Data Desk owns the estimates, sport allocations, rankings, audits, and corrections. Read the full methodology.
The Sideline Data DeskSchool-specific market briefing

UC San Diego NIL FAQ

What is UC San Diego's estimated NIL roster value?

The Sideline's best current NIL Market Index estimate for UC San Diego is $3.1M. This ranks #268 nationally among Division I programs. Every sport and player pool is reconciled to that school total.

What conference does UC San Diego play in?

UC San Diego competes in the Big West at the Lower-Tier level.

Which UC San Diego sport has the highest roster value?

Men's Basketball is UC San Diego's largest estimated NIL roster market at approximately $2.0M in 2026.

How does UC San Diego compare to other Big West schools?

UC San Diego's $3.1M aggregate roster market can be compared with every Big West program and all 357 Division I schools on The Sideline's NIL Tracker.

Is UC San Diego's NIL roster value the same as school spending?

No. It is The Sideline's best current estimate of athlete market value across active rosters. Historical disclosed compensation, school-directed benefits, foundation support, third-party NIL, and player market valuation are labeled separately so the same dollar is not counted twice.

Latest UC San Diego News

Live

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion

Create a free account to share intel, analysis, and insights on this program's NIL situation.

Sign InCreate Account
Did You Know?

Barry Sanders scored five touchdowns in the 1988 Holiday Bowl, but bowl stats did not count toward NCAA season totals then.

Have intel on UC San Diego?

Tips, corrections, or insider info welcome.

NIL@thesideline.co
Compare Schools

Stack UC San Diego against any other program — side-by-side roster value by sport.

Compare Now
Sourced fromESPNCollege Football DataCollege Sports CommissionCBS SportsYahoo Sports

Advertisement

The Sideline

Free Weekly Newsletter

THE SIDELINE WEEKLY BRIEF

Every Sunday — top stories, transfer portal moves, NIL headlines, and the week's biggest plays. No spam, just sports.

Delivered every Sunday. Unsubscribe anytime.