Texas reportedly spent $28 million during Arch Manning's official recruitment visit

The Texas Longhorns went to great lengths this summer to acquire the #1 overall recruit, Arch Manning.

According to The Athletic, the university spent nearly $280,000 when Manning visited Austin in June for civil service recruitment, and obtained receipts and expense claims in an open record request. Texas rolled out Red His carpet for Manning and his eight other recruits, including airfare, five-star hotels, meals, desserts, entertainment, and an open bar for parents.

Peyton and Eli Manning’s nephew, Manning, made a verbal commitment soon after the visit.

Now, while this may seem like a lot of money on the surface, considering the university is allowed to provide lodging, food and entertainment for up to four families per recruit. Nine recruits multiplied by four family members equals 36 guests to host. That includes school coaches and staff. In any school with many guests, tabs will appear immediately.

It’s also not that colleges don’t have money. Alabama and Clemson gave head coaches Nick Saban and Dubbo Swinney over $11 million a season, while Georgia head coach Kirby Smart made over $10 million a season. Not to mention, Texas gave head coach Steve Sarkisian his $34.2 million over his six years in 2021 and $21 million in his staff contract.

Manning’s commitment is of immeasurable value to the state of Texas. He was the biggest quarterback recruit since Vince Young in 2002 and could be on the roster when Texas joins his SEC. Manning also has a huge name, image, and likeness deal to make, given the lesser thing the Longhorns have and the lack of professional teams in the area.

how texas money works

The Athletic has broken down as much as possible where and how Texas spent all $280,000 that weekend. The breakdown is as follows.

• $21,000 travel expenses for recruits and their families. This includes out-of-state airfare.

• $46,696 for a 34-room hotel at the Four Seasons Austin.

• $17,319.71 for the Friday lunch buffet.

• $1,813.74 for custom cakes and other refreshments in each recruit’s hotel room.

• $3,359.12 speaker rental for photography at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center.

• $29,129.40 for DKR’s Dinner Buffet, which includes tableware rentals, drinks, and ice sculptures.

• $11,880 with open bar for recruit parents.

• Another hotel buffet at 2am

• $10,226 for Saturday breakfast buffet.

• $9,497.72 for a trip to Top Golf for a total of 75 guests including food and beverages.

• Dinner at III Forks Steakhouse is $36,900 and includes 46 7-ounce lobster, 34 bone-in ribeye, 26 8-ounce filets, 17 New York strips, sea bass, chicken fried lobster, and lobster mac and cheese. was

• $2,357.50 for a 1-hour boat cruise on Lady Bird Lake, including dessert from Amy’s Ice Cream.

• A $31,628.75 bar tub for parents at the W Austin Hotel.

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What a weekend.

But was it worth it for Texas? Lure Manning was the final prize, but three of the other eight recruits also committed to the Longhorns. Four-star receiver Mikal Harrison-Pilot remains undecided, but will reportedly choose between Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Houston and California.

The spending is notable as it’s in the six figures, but it’s unclear how this weekend ranks among the amounts other schools have spent on other recruiting trips in the past. When he joins the Horns, people will forget how much money Texas spent if he succeeded in Austin.