• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Power 5 Schools Have Committed to $55M In Football Coaching Buyouts

  • Five Power 5 coaches have lost their jobs this season, but they received multimillion-dollar buyouts.
  • The payouts are another example of increasingly gargantuan coaching contracts.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

One of the easiest ways to get rich in 2022 is to get fired from a Power 5 football head coaching position.

Since this season began, five coaches have lost their jobs — each earning buyouts that, in aggregate, total $55 million. 

Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst was the latest to get the ax after the Badgers lost to Illinois. His contract stipulated a $19.5 million buyout — but the athletic department negotiated a lower fee of $11 million.

The rest of the buyouts include:

  • Scott Frost, Nebraska: $15M 
  • Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech: $11.37M 
  • Herm Edwards, Arizona State: $9.4M
  • Karl Dorrell, Colorado: $8.7M

Since the College Football Playoff began in 2015, buyouts have gone up three-fold, according to Knight Commission-Newhouse data. 

Some advocates believe athletic departments could better spend their revenues elsewhere. The Knight Commission suggests investing in athlete education, health and safety, gender equity, and development. Others say football players should get a chunk of the funds.

But so far, multiple attempts to reform the system have failed.

A lawsuit found that attempting to cap NCAA coaching salaries would be an antitrust violation. A congressional investigation into whether athletic departments are violating nonprofit status has so far not yielded any punishments. And a Knight Commission suggestion to implement a coaching “luxury tax” has also been met with crickets.

Whether or not it’s possible, Knight Commission CEO Amy Perko argued something needs to change. “The multimillion-dollar buyouts for football coaches is just another glaring symptom of a warped financial model that places a premium on spending for competitive advantage,” she said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
July 15, 2025

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.
July 15, 2025

Georgia’s Kirby Smart Says Money Is Making Players Too Comfortable

The football coach is concerned about the revenue-sharing era.
July 14, 2025

Lane Kiffin: ‘Doesn’t Seem’ Like CFB Revenue-Sharing Cap Works Very Well

The outspoken Ole Miss football coach isn’t impressed with revenue-sharing guidelines.