Updated Saturday, September 5, 2026. Figures are reported estimates; Miami does not publish its payroll. Refreshes after each portal window.
Miami has the highest paid player in college football, the most athletes in On3’s NIL 100 of any school, and a roster reported at $44 million, second only to Texas. The Hurricanes reached the national title game last season and then spent to keep the window open, headlined by the portal’s biggest prize.
| Player | Pos | On3 valuation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darian Mensah | QB | $6.5M | No. 1 in all of college sports; Miami reportedly paid $8M to $10M to land him from Duke |
| Jackson Cantwell | OT | $2.5M | True freshman, one of the highest paid recruits ever |
| Damon Wilson II | EDGE | $2M | |
| Malachi Toney | WR | $2M | Signed an Adidas endorsement deal this week |
| Ahmad Moten | DL | $1.5M | |
| Somto Cyril | C (basketball) | $4M | |
| Acaden Lewis | PG (basketball) | $3M |
On3 NIL 100 as of September 4, 2026, deal based model.
The Mensah Deal
Mensah entered the portal from Duke on the final day of the January window with a do not contact tag, after throwing for an ACC best 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns and leading the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC title since 1962. Duke sought a restraining order; the two sides settled. Miami, needing a replacement for Carson Beck, won the bidding at a reported $8 million to $10 million total cost, which sets the ceiling for what a quarterback is worth in this market. His $6.5 million valuation is a full million clear of anyone else in college football.
How Miami Spends
Mensah is a quarter or more of the reported roster cost by himself. The rest is spread across a title game roster: Cantwell as a freshman tackle at $2.5 million, Wilson on the edge, Toney at receiver, Moten inside. Basketball adds Cyril and Lewis at $4 million and $3 million. Miami was named by an SEC front office staffer as one of five programs, with Oregon, USC, Texas and Texas A&M, that operate in their own financial category.
The Bottom Line
Miami’s $44 million roster is second nationally and built around the most expensive player in the sport. See the full ranking on most expensive rosters and every top player on highest NIL valuations. Related: Miami depth chart.