Wilson Alexander has a good article up on the Advocate website about LSU's collective

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Bayou Traditions budgeted $8 million for the roster this season, though it is not expected to reach that number, according to a source with knowledge of the collective who was granted anonymity in order to speak freely.

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So they have $8M, but don’t plan on spending it all? If so, that’s a good sign. LSU Football should be in a good spot with funds from the collective plus others like Gordon & Graves/Raising Canes

I have complete confidence that they’ll be successful with BK, Austin Thomas, & Woodward in charge. Even though the landscape of NIL & College Football isn’t certain, this is encouraging.

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“There is no perfect model,” LSU senior associate athletic director for football administration Austin Thomas said. “It's no different than the NFL. Those organizations all build their roster and their teams differently, and the construction of those looks different on every NFL franchise, right? I think the biggest piece to all of this is, you have to understand who you are first.”

In January, Thomas returned to LSU after two years as Ole Miss football’s chief of staff. Though in attendance for Kelly’s opening news conference, Thomas was not retained amid the 2021 coaching change. In Oxford, Thomas helped oversee contracts, budgets, hires, roster management, personnel, NIL and scheduling.
Back at LSU for the third time, Thomas has many of the same responsibilities. He functions as the football team’s general manager while participating in administrative tasks, possibly helping him reach his goal of becoming an athletic director. Thomas said he takes direction from Kelly and LSU athletic director Scott Woodward.

While Thomas’ duties are similar to the ones at Ole Miss, the teams construct their rosters through different methods. Ole Miss has leaned on the transfer portal, signing 46 freshmen and 61 transfers over the past three cycles. LSU added 16 transfers the first year under Kelly and seven so far this offseason, gradually pulling away from the portal as it builds the roster.

“For us, we have to go out and evaluate and identify the right people and right fit for us and then recruit those guys here and retain them,” Thomas said. “Retention is the biggest key in all of this, in my opinion. At LSU, we're gonna lay that foundation through that high school recruiting base and then supplement it where we may need in other areas.”

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So it sounds somewhat like LSU is going against the grain as it relates to the rest of the main players in the SEC.

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Not really. Ole Miss is the outlier as far as how many transfers it routinely takes.

If you read the article, they are about to get the "regular" fans involved at the $50 - $100 a month level. This will expand the fund.

My concern is that they expect the Louisiana kids to sing "Hey Fighting Tigers" & get on board for good ole LSU & a hamburger. The problem that scares me is that the Texas & Georgia's coming in with steak money to cherry pick. That will be the difference between 12-0 & 10-2.

Eh, they are definitely on the lower end, but maybe a little behind considering what they need. LSU has taken 7 transfers to date. For comparison, Georgia - 8, Tennessee - 8, Florida - 13, Alabama - 12, Ole Miss - 19, Arkansas - 19, Mizzou - 12, South Carolina -22, Kentucky - 11

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He’s not in “win now” mode like some other coaches (Kiffin) are.

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You like the fact that Brian Kelly isn't in "win now" mode? Yikes.

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You just want to win a natty & then lose to Kansas State in a bowl game with a WR playing QB again?

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If it means I get another natty? frick yes.

If you give me the option of natty, then two .500 seasons vs three straight 10 win seasons, I'm picking a natty 100% of the time.

yall remember the NILSU movement the day NIL went live back a few summers ago. LSU was pumping their chest and got caught with their pants down. They expected NIL to be all of these wonderful opportunities we offer to student athletes and it was actually a free agency and recruiting tool to pay players legally.

I'm glad Bayou Traditions is doing something but our whole NIL scheme is thoroughly behind some of our rivals on the gridiron.

I agree with the decision not to pay 1 defensive lineman transfer a 1 million dollars. That would throw off the locker room big time. We will just have to make due with what we have.

To be paying 1 million the player better be a cant miss and have some skin in the game. Not a unproven transfer that hasn't done anything for the program before being promised a big payday.

Ultimately if this is the way CFB will work in the future, I think its time for the Power 5 to break away and agree on salary caps. The current system is unsustainable.

Also since the players want to be payed like NFL guys the players should have to be locked in via contracts like NFL guys are. The constant transferring looking for bigger pay days should be reduced via signed contracts to remain at a program to get paid. Lastly, the Power 5 should switch to performance based pay like the pros. Lock in a recruit at an agreed upon number and give him a chance to earn more with incentives.

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LSU was pumping their chest and got caught with their pants down

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whole NIL scheme is thoroughly behind some of our rivals on the gridiron.

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Have you looked at the 2025 recruiting class?