Sark calls out CFB programs that aren't ready to admit they're spending big

Over the last couple of days, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has started to let the world know that even he feels differently about his current team than he has about the squads of years' past.

"I would say probably for the first time, I feel like we have the top-level talent across the board, position by position, on both sides of the ball. But, yet, we also have the depth behind it across the board," Sarkisian said just days ago.

Now, as people point to Texas's spending levels as the reason Sarkisian feels this way, the Longhorns' leader has backed his program's decision to build the best roster possible and made sure everyone remembers that the Horns aren't alone in doing so.

Texas, Ohio State, LSU aren't only big NIL spenders

Yes, Texas has one of the biggest NIL packages and funds in the country, alongside the likes of the Ohio State Buckeyes, LSU Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, and other powerhouse athletic departments.

However, Sarkisian said it isn't just a handful of schools that are getting in on the big-spending game to make sure their programs keep pace; it's dozens of athletic departments across the country.

"You’ve got to pay a lot of money just to get in the game. So the teams that have a chance to win it, and I don’t know what that number ends up being. Call it 25, but everybody’s in that game. And if you say you’re not, then you’re not being truthful," Sarkisian said.

Imagine, while trying to get your team's name among the greats of the modern era of college football, shying away from the fact that you're doing everything necessary to ensure that happens.

Of course, not everybody can afford to buy the entire football team new suits for every game or bring out a handful of Lamborghinis during top recruits' official visits. However, Texas is far from the only program willing to drop a couple of million dollars to bring in the top talent.

The Longhorns did just bring in their fifth consecutive top-10 recruiting class for the football program, scoring the likes of five-star quarterback Dia Bell and five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson.

Texas also just landed the No. 11 transfer portal class, which included extremely talented stars like five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman and four-star running back Hollywood Smothers.

On the recruiting front, the NIL money is clearly paying off. Now, it's just time for Sarkisian to make it pay off on the field by winning the SEC and National Championships.