Arizona State spends an estimated $19 million to $23 million on its 2026 football roster, according to The Athletic, slightly above the Big 12 average of $18 million to $22 million. The Sun Devils lost quarterback Sam Leavitt to LSU, where he is now valued at $4.5 million, and replaced him with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley, who committed on Jan. 3, 2026, as part of what was ranked the fourth best transfer class in the country.
| Quarterback | Status | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Leavitt | Led ASU to the 2024 Big 12 title; transferred to LSU in January 2026 | $4.5 million at LSU |
| Cutter Boley | Kentucky transfer, ASU’s 2026 starter; 387 yards and six touchdowns in just over a half in the opener, a 70 to 7 win over Morgan State | ASU’s top valuation; about $1.5 million in his last On3 listing at Kentucky |
How ASU Compares in the Big 12
| Team | Estimated 2026 budget |
|---|---|
| Texas Tech | $38 million to $42 million |
| BYU | $25 million to $30 million |
| Arizona State | $19 million to $23 million |
| Colorado | $18 million to $21 million |
| Arizona | $13 million to $18 million |
How ASU Spends
ASU’s approach under Kenny Dillingham has been to find value in the portal and keep its coach: when Michigan pursued Dillingham in December 2025, Arizona State gave him a new five year deal averaging $7.5 million and raised the assistant pool to $11 million, among the highest in the Big 12. Details are on the Kenny Dillingham salary page. The Sun Devils spend roughly $2 million to $4 million a year more than rival Arizona.
Budget figures are from The Athletic as reported by Yahoo Sports; transfer details from Sports Illustrated. Schools do not publish football payrolls, so these are estimates.
The Bottom Line
Arizona State spends an estimated $19 million to $23 million on its 2026 roster, just above the Big 12 average, with Cutter Boley replacing Sam Leavitt at quarterback. The full lists are on most expensive rosters and NIL rankings by conference. Follow the Sun Devils on the Arizona State football schedule.