Texas Tech lands No. 1 transfer as seven-figure deal eclipses Shedeur Sanders’ entire rookie contract

Jan 6, 2026 - 08:15

College football players are being paid more than NFL players.

Texas Tech just landed the number one recruit and biggest fish in the transfer portal: Brendan Sorsby.

Brendan Sorsby #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats laugh during warmups before their game against Utah Utes at the Rice-Eccles Stadium — Sorsby was one of the biggest names in the transfer portal

The former Cincinnati quarterback has committed to Texas Tech and is reportedly set to receive an NIL package valued at approximately $5 million.

By comparison, Shedeur Sanders’ four-year rookie deal with the Cleveland Browns totals $4.6 million; this is the new age of college football.

Players can now earn more by staying in school than by going pro, something that was unheard of just a few years ago. Of course, every decision carries risk, but this is now a reality in the sport.

Sorsby’s commitment followed visits to Texas Tech in Lubbock on Friday and LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday, as the Red Raiders’ aggressive transfer portal approach continues to pay dividends after the program’s first Big 12 championship.

The 21-year-old pointed to Texas Tech’s facilities as a major selling point and praised the coaching staff for the culture they’ve built.

The $5 million also probably didn’t hurt.

Looking ahead to 2026, Texas Tech landed what may be its most significant and costly addition to date. Sorsby will enter next season projected as one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks after earning second-team All-Big 12 honors a year ago.

The Red Raiders have also developed a reputation as one of college football’s most aggressive spenders.

According to ESPN’s Max Olson, Texas Tech committed more than $3 million to secure edge rusher David Bailey last season, underscoring the program’s willingness to invest heavily in top-tier talent.

The oil money runs deep in Lubbock, Texas, and they aren’t afraid to spend it and go after whoever they want.

Brendan Sorsby #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats passes before the game against the TCU Horned Frogs — Texas Tech already has one of the most expensive rosters in college football

Brendan Sorsby #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats walks off the field after beating the Baylor Bears 41-20 at Nippert Stadium — Sorsby will be paid handsomely in Lubbock

Sorsby entered the cycle widely viewed as one of the most valuable players on the transfer market, with industry experts estimating his potential NIL value around $5 million.

While the exact terms of his deal remain undisclosed, the bidding war between two of college football’s most aggressive spenders makes it unlikely he won’t rank among the sport’s highest-paid players in 2026, potentially eclipsing that figure.

On the field, Sorsby emerged as one of the nation’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in 2025.

He accounted for 36 total touchdowns, throwing for 2,800 yards and 27 scores while adding nine rushing touchdowns and 580 yards on the ground.

His production has positioned him as a projected top prospect in the 2027 NFL draft, a class expected to be rich in quarterback talent.

Texas Tech parlayed its financial investment into on-field success, capturing a conference championship and securing the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff with a first-round bye.

acob Rodriguez #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lifts the trophy and celebrates with teammates after defeating the BYU Cougars in the 2025 Edward Jones Big 12 Championship — Texas Tech won its first ever Big 12 title this season

The season, however, ended abruptly in the CFP, where the Oregon Ducks dominated the Red Raiders, holding them to 215 total yards in a 23–0 shutout in the Orange Bowl.

Even so, the setback feels more like a stepping stone than a stopping point, as something special continues to take shape in Lubbock under head coach Joey McGuire.

With Sorsby arriving, the future remains bright for the Red Raiders.