Some food for thought as the portal is about to be opened on Monday:
No one knows how crazy the portal is going to be and how deep every program's pockets are going to be, so who Texas, or anyone else, takes is a great unknown. One thing is certain - we are about to hear more bullshit that isn't true regarding money and offers than we have heard in the prior 20 years combined. Addison was allegedly going to get $1M from USC. He wound up getting like $400k. His agent later got him some other corporate stuff, but that's a glimpse. Mathis got like $250-$300k at Nebraska and everyone was tossing around $600-$700k as the number in the spring. That is all about to be put on steroids. The Bijans of the world are few and far between. Everyone is going to be Evan Stewart in this thing. No one has a bottomless pit of money. The bullshit factor is immeasurable, in my mind. Keep that in your minds when you see players:
1) Being rumored to be going everywhere and then staying put (irrespective of program) because suddenly they realize that the money elsewhere isn't as bountiful as they'd convinced themselves it was
2) Going somewhere shocking (because a random program decided to break the bank on that one guy)
3) Using programs like Texas to get raises, just as in coaching searches
One thing that is still very immature is the way programs are aligning with corporate NIL. I think that will be built into a strength for UT, USC, and a few others over the next few years. No one is hosting a player with built-in pitches from corporate sponsors yet. Coaches, frankly, have no clue how to do that. It's going to take a higher level of sophistication and planning than that of what exists today. Want to lure a sure-fire starting WR and edge to Texas? Show them the numbers that Dell, Lambo, and Indeed are bringing to the table for them to do a couple of events, placements, and commercials.
Anyway, I know the inevitable "gee, I thought we had NIL figured out" and "we've got to moneywhip all of these guys, we're by gawd Texas!" and "I can't believe random WR X got $2million to go to Miami" posts will still happen, but here's hoping this board keeps the flow of ignorance on this shit down to a trickle.