Those Jimmies and Joes don’t just walk in the door.

While fans of other programs whine about bagmen, what they really ought to be focusing on is what schools are spending on recruiting out in the open.  And as of 2019, Georgia was lapping the damned field.

Seventy-three percent of Power Five programs increased their recruiting spending from 2018 to 2019. Some programs, like Georgia, were just keeping with the status quo, while others increased spending in correlation with coaching staff revamps.

Kirby Smart and the University of Georgia spent $1 million more than the next highest-spending program, which was Alabama. The Bulldogs’ outlandish recruiting spending hasn’t led to a national title yet, but it could pay off very soon. As of Oct. 2021, they’re the favorite to win it all this year.

2019 Power Five Recruiting Spending Ranked

1. Georgia – $3,676,858
2. Alabama – $2,663,467
3. Tennessee – $2,247,289
4. Clemson – $2,234,173
5. Arkansas – $1,931,026
6. Texas A&M – $1,673,204
7. LSU – $1,607,148
8. Penn State – $1,529,068
9. Florida State – $1,503,142
10. Michigan – $1,411,989
11. Nebraska – $1,349,991
12. Oklahoma – $1,276,908
13. Texas – $1,275,368
14. Florida – $1,271,821
15. Oregon – $1,214,111

Georgia tripled Florida’s recruiting budget.  I guess you really can’t put a price tag on the transfer portal.