Ole Miss football defeated Texas A&M on Saturday despite a significant discrepancy between the two programs in terms of financial backing. The Rebels, though not poor, do not have the same amount of money in the bank as the Aggies.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart took a shot at that reality in the locker room following the win in Oxford. He had just one thing to say. And based on the score, he’s right!
Money don’t win you ballgames.
— Jaxson Dart
Texas A&M University enrolls about 75,000 students while the University of Mississippi enrolls about 25,000. Having three times as many students means three times as many alumni. Having three times as many alumni means three times as many donations.
It’s not an exact science, but you get the idea.
In addition, the folks down in College Station have deep-rooted ties to the oil industry. When the price of gas is up, many Aggies fans see a greater profit. A great profit leads to a larger bank account. A larger bank account leads to a larger disposable income.
All of this is crucial when it comes to success in the modern era of college athletics. Money and success are intrinsically linked, especially with NIL.
Schools with wealthy Name, Image and Likeness collectives are able to offer more money to top talent in recruiting and through the transfer portal. It is well known by now that Texas A&M spent a small fortune to land the greatest recruiting class in college football history in 2022.
The Aggies’ entire defensive front is made up of four and five-star recruits. Their entire defensive line is likely headed to the NFL one day.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss is forced to find creative ways to raise funds. The Rebels don’t have the same amount of NIL money to throw at recruiting or the transfer portal.
It didn’t matter on Saturday!
Ole Miss won and moved to 8-1. Texas A&M lost and moved to 5-4.
Jaxson Dart did not hold back!
The Aggies may have won the arms race, but the Rebels won the game. One is more important than the other!