Friday, October 30, 2026

Big Money on Line for Coaches in CFP Semifinals

  • Harbaugh has racked up more than $2M in bonuses already and another six-figure bonus is reachable.
  • Georgia’s Kirby Smart is up to $850,000 so far this season ahead of Saturday’s CFP semifinal.
Jim Harbaugh laughs during pregame interview
Cheryl Evans-USA TODAY NETWORK

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has already netted more than $2 million in bonuses for leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff semifinal berth. 

It will take two victories before Harbaugh is eligible for another seven-figure payout. Wins over TCU in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday and another in the CFP title game on Jan. 9 would trigger a $1 million bonus. 

Harbaugh received $500,000 for winning the Big Ten East Division title, $1 million for the overall conference title and another $500,000 for making it to the College Football Playoffs. He also took in $50,000 for winning Big Ten coach of the year. 

Harbaugh’s compensation — minus the aforementioned bonuses  — is $8.05 million for the 2022 season, the first of a reworked five-year contract announced in February. 

  • Georgia coach Kirby Smart is up to $850,000 bonuses so far, according to USA Today. Georgia faces Ohio State in the other playoff semifinal, the Peach Bowl, on Saturday.
  • Ohio State coach Ryan Day earned $250,000 for making it into the playoff, and could earn $100,000 more by advancing to the title game. 
  • TCU coach Sonny Dykes bonus structure isn’t known. As a private school, TCU does not release contract information. He recently received an extension through 2028.

Pay Rebound

Harbaugh agreed to cut his compensation about half for the 2021 season to around $4 million as part of renogotiated contract. He also renounced $1.5 million in bonuses that were funneled to athletic department staffers who had their pay cut as a result of the pandemic.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nadia DeMarinis/FOS

Brian Kelly Not Closing Door on Return to Coaching

Kelly tells FOS he’s willing to listen about a return to the sidelines.

How Wisconsin’s $14.6M Boost Helped Fuel Badgers’ Resurgence

State debt relief helped Wisconsin free up millions for athletics spending.

McAfee Details FBI ‘GameDay’ Guidance After Kirk Shooting

He confirmed an FOS story that FBI protected him from assassination attempts.
Sep 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Broadcaster Pat McAfee prior to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.

ESPN Stands by McAfee’s ‘Very Real and Valid’ Concerns

An ESPN spokeswoman says the network takes all threats very seriously.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/29/26 – Brewers Win World Series, Ernie Leaving ‘Inside the NBA,’ Saquon’s Polymarket Exit

0:00

Featured Today

Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti watches during the first round American Conference Tournament game between Memphis and Tulane in Birmingham, Ala, on March 11, 2026.

Why Private Equity Is Still Hesitant to Invest in College Sports

There’s “plenty of money for the taking,” says Tim Pernetti.
October 24, 2026

CFB Coach Firings: NC State, Maryland, Baylor Owe More Than $30M

More costly coaching changes could follow as pressure mounts across college football.
Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook.
Exclusive
October 29, 2026

GOP Staffer Urged SEC to Support College Sports Bill Before Midterms

If the Democrats win the House, “you won’t see this bill… being considered.”
Sponsored

How the New York Yankees Stay Game-Ready with Sage Intacct

See how Sage Intacct helps the Yankees streamline finances and plan for the future.
October 23, 2026

Utah Is College Football’s PE Guinea Pig—and Its’ Cashing In

No. 10 Utah hosts No. 14 Houston on Saturday night.
October 23, 2026

Bowl Games Face Uncertain Future With a 24-Team CFP

College football bowl game viewership rose 13% year over year in 2025.
Nov 22, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns flag on the field after a touchdown is scored during the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
October 23, 2026

Kirk Goldsberry Leads Texas’s AI Push and Understands the Skeptics

Goldsberry says the program will create jobs, not cut them.
Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby looks on during the spring football game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
October 22, 2026

Cincinnati’s $1M Sorsby Lawsuit Hangs Over Texas Tech Showdown

One of the biggest offseason storylines returns to the spotlight on Saturday.