For those who are curious about the changing collegiate landscape, CBS posted an in depth piece covering the broader NIL landscape for power conference teams going into this new season:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/nil-roster-spending-value-tiers-ncaa-hoops-2026-27-season/?ref=basketunderreview.com

Cal is in Tier 6 ($7.1 to $9.9 million estimated):
"Cal, which is also creeping closer to $10 million, is a haven for high-major flameouts who want playing time. That's the cost of doing business in this realm."

Also of note, Stanford was deemed to have the lowest high major NIL budget, at just a shade over $5 million.

" The ACC has the widest gaps by far of any high-major. The usual suspects are in the stratosphere, while the conference also has 12 of its 18 teams under the national average of $13.5 million. There's more variety in NIL situations and changes and upward and downward trends in this league than any other."

This offers an opportunity for Cal. Only 6 teams spend above average. Assuming those teams will finish in the top half of the ACC every year (and they wont always) that means 3 or more of teams that spend less than the national average will finish in the top half of the ACC every year. That is our immediate goal, being one of those teams and making the NCAA Tournament. Then making the second weekend.

But Stanford seems to always sign good players and Smith is an excellent coach

northbay said:

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For those who are curious about the changing collegiate landscape, CBS posted an in depth piece covering the broader NIL landscape for power conference teams going into this new season:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/nil-roster-spending-value-tiers-ncaa-hoops-2026-27-season/?ref=basketunderreview.com

Cal is in Tier 6 ($7.1 to $9.9 million estimated):
"Cal, which is also creeping closer to $10 million, is a haven for high-major flameouts who want playing time. That's the cost of doing business in this realm."

Also of note, Stanford was deemed to have the lowest high major NIL budget, at just a shade over $5 million.

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HoopDreams said:

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But Stanford seems to always sign good players and Smith is an excellent coach

northbay said:

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For those who are curious about the changing collegiate landscape, CBS posted an in depth piece covering the broader NIL landscape for power conference teams going into this new season:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/nil-roster-spending-value-tiers-ncaa-hoops-2026-27-season/?ref=basketunderreview.com

Cal is in Tier 6 ($7.1 to $9.9 million estimated):
"Cal, which is also creeping closer to $10 million, is a haven for high-major flameouts who want playing time. That's the cost of doing business in this realm."

Also of note, Stanford was deemed to have the lowest high major NIL budget, at just a shade over $5 million.

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One of the things Smith does, maybe better than any other coach, is "Moneyball" for talent acquisition, finding diamonds in the rough.

Also, technically foreign players on student visas cannot accept NIL. Schools like Cal and Stanford need to take advantage of our international academic reputation for those players.