It’s just not that simple. There are serious ramifications from overpaying
You upset all the other DTs in the room? What do any of them besides Hughes have as a leg to stand on?
Not to jump in the deep end, but this insight into the problems Texas is having right now in the portal are a part of the ramifications:
TLDR: Texas paid big last year, got a reputation for it among agents and players, and now everyone and their mother, including current players, are using Texas to increase bids with the teams they actually want to play for. This alone might be annoying but manageable for one position group, except their entire current roster is apparently threatening to transfer unless they get raises relative to the market. Texas having a reputation as a place with a lot of money, and a willingness to spend, is ironically leading to their budget being more challenged than schools with less money, and they might not be able to actually afford their current roster when this shakes out.
ND clearly made mistakes approaching the portal this year, but it turns out no one is doing this well except for a few non-traditional schools with recent donor money and nothing to lose (TT, IU). All traditional powers have fanbases freaking out right now because it looks like a stream of talent leaking out and nothing serious coming back in.
Most traditional powers recruiting high school well, ND included, are prioritizing roster retention, but even that is not going well at some places because the market is compelling players to come back and say, "that agreement I signed a month ago is too small. Look at what Player Y got. Double it, or I enter the portal."
Texas' problems are severe enough right now that I wouldn't be surprised to see Sarkisian bounce to the NFL (maybe ATL) if he gets an offer.
