Matt Norlander

Matt Norlander

@norlander.bsky.social

Senior Writer and talking head for CBS Sports. Music obsessive 🎸 Ski lover ⛷️

22.5K followers204 following5.1K posts

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

Will note that it's been five days since this story ran and have continued to get sporadic calls and texts from other sources — who were not used in reporting out the piece — who told me they believe the information was as close to accurate as possible. Dive in if you haven't already 👇

Matt Norlander@norlander.bsky.social

How much are power-conference teams paying their 🏀 rosters in 2026? We spent a month talking to 100-plus sources, and we didn't rely on just the coaches for this info. ADs, GMs and even third-party consultants, too. All 80 high-major programs split into seven spending tiers. A CBS Sports exclusive:

cbssports.comCollege basketball's NIL arms race, from $5M to $25M+: Breaking down roster values, spending tiers for 2026-27CBS Sports contacted more than 100-plus sources to discover how much each power-conference hoops program invested this season
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

I know most are occupied with an NFL Sunday early slate, but Duke and Kansas are playing one hell of an exhibition in Lawrence right now (ESPN). Wish it was the regular season, but will take what we can get. Duke hasn't played at the Phog since 1988.

Matt Norlander reposted

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

The college basketball season is 10 days away and it's time to get serious about the prep. You want know who to know? As always, we have you covered. Here's our annual guide to the top 101 players. Such a fun project every year. www.cbssports.com/college-bask...

cbssports.comCollege basketball rankings: Top 100 And 1 players who will define the 2026-27 seasonOur annual talent rundown has every big name to know as we ready for the season's start in November
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

That throw by Caleb just now might prove tobe the play of the game. Third-and-long, heels touching Chicago's end zone, pressure closing in, and he frozen-ropes one to Odunze for 21 yards.

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

I'll be podcasting tomorrow about this story and taking you deep into the reporting process, details about the conversations that were had, my opinions on a lot of the schools, the state of college basketball's spending situation in 2026, all of it. Will send the link the morning.

Matt Norlander@norlander.bsky.social

How much are power-conference teams paying their 🏀 rosters in 2026? We spent a month talking to 100-plus sources, and we didn't rely on just the coaches for this info. ADs, GMs and even third-party consultants, too. All 80 high-major programs split into seven spending tiers. A CBS Sports exclusive:

cbssports.comCollege basketball's NIL arms race, from $5M to $25M+: Breaking down roster values, spending tiers for 2026-27CBS Sports contacted more than 100-plus sources to discover how much each power-conference hoops program invested this season
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

How much are power-conference teams paying their 🏀 rosters in 2026? We spent a month talking to 100-plus sources, and we didn't rely on just the coaches for this info. ADs, GMs and even third-party consultants, too. All 80 high-major programs split into seven spending tiers. A CBS Sports exclusive:

cbssports.comCollege basketball's NIL arms race, from $5M to $25M+: Breaking down roster values, spending tiers for 2026-27CBS Sports contacted more than 100-plus sources to discover how much each power-conference hoops program invested this season
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

Sources to CBS Sports: RJ Luis will not play for LSU this season, despite Will Wade's relentless behind-the-scenes push over the past few months to try and make it happen. Some breaking news: www.cbssports.com/college-bask...

cbssports.comRJ Luis ruled ineligible at LSU, but Salou Niang and Brice Dessert will both be on Tigers' rosterThe most chaotic eligibility saga of college basketball — perhaps ever — is gaining real clarity with the season around the corner
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

My best-of-the-rest preseason preview details the must-know teams, coaches and players — and predictions on every conference champ outside the Power Five. There will be a lot of noisemakers at this level this season. The mid-major lot is already being underrated going into November.

cbssports.comBest of the rest: Pac-12 returns, Mountain West shifts, new leagues, college hoops Cinderellas to knowThere are 32 leagues (again!) in college hoops. Here's our look at the teams, names and games to know in the 27 outside the power conferences
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

My best-of-the-rest preseason preview details the must-know teams, coaches and players — and predictions on every conference champ outside the Power Five. There will be a lot of noisemakers at this level this season. The mid-major lot is already being underrated going into November.

cbssports.comBest of the rest: Pac-12 returns, Mountain West shifts, new leagues, college hoops Cinderellas to knowThere are 32 leagues (again!) in college hoops. Here's our look at the teams, names and games to know in the 27 outside the power conferences
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

JUST IN: Men's preseason AP Top 25. Florida, as expected, is easily No. 1. 1—🐊 (47) 2—Duke (10) 3—Illinois (2) 4—UConn 5—Zona 6—Sparty 7—Texas 8—Tenn 9—UVA 10—Houston 11—'Ville 12—Ark 13—SJU 14—The U 15—Zaga 16—Michigan 17—Kansas 18—Iowa St 19—TTU 20—Bama 21—USC 22—UCLA 23—UK 24—Vandy 25—BYU

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

He's got The Knack for the big play, too. First bears DB with three sacks in a game in more than 40 years!

Mina Kimes@minakimes.bsky.social

Kyler Gordon has 5 quick pressures and 3 sacks on 8 pass rush snaps. Insanely efficient day as a blitzer.

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

Rueben Chinyelu guaranteed Florida wins a national title. The reason why Greg Sankey wouldn't talk about LSU — and what Will Wade's doing. Calipari believes the PCSA will pass. Mark Pope believes this will be his best year at Kentucky. And much more. My extended thoughts from SEC Media Days ⤵️

cbssports.comSEC Media Days Takeaways: Florida's Rueben Chinyelu guarantees national title, LSU litigation saga continuesThe SEC seems poised to be the best league in college basketball — again. Here's a wide look at what emerged from Birmingham this week
Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

The best CC album. Recovering the Satellites tracks, ranked: Miller’s Angels Monkey Children in Bloom Catapult Angels of the Silences I’m Not Sleeping Recovering the Satellites Another Horsedreamer’s Blues Have You Seen Me Lately? Long December Daylight Fading Goodnight Elisabeth Mercury Walkaways

Stereogum@stereogum.com

Counting Crows’ best album came out 30 years ago today 💿

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

I say this as a happy college 🏈 casual: 24-team CFP feels like a cursed decision in ways that won’t be fully realized for more than a decade from now.

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

Earlier tonight, John Calipari and I closed down SEC Media Days after 6 p.m. local at the third-floor bar. Make sure you listen to this episode for the Taylor Swift story alone. And the moose talk. And Cal calling himself an asshole. It's in the feed now and will go up on YouTube in the AM.

Matt Norlander
@norlander.bsky.social

There is just one mid-major program (Grand Canyon, 44) in KenPom's preseason top-50. It is a physical certainty that number will be much larger by the end of the season, with five being the minimum.

Matt Norlander@norlander.bsky.social

🚨KENPOM PRESEASON RANKINGS ARE LIVE🚨 Here's 1-60. Note that Florida will easily be the preseason No. 1 in every human-based poll ... but Duke is No. 1 here.