James Franklin wasn’t the only college football coach fired Sunday, as two other FBS programs made moves that pushed contract buyouts to nearly $100 million just seven weeks into the season.
After Penn State’s $49.7 million axing of Franklin, Oregon State fired Trent Bray, who will be owed a buyout of roughly $4 million, and UAB fired Trent Dilfer, costing $2.4 million.
In total, seven FBS schools have fired their coaches since the 2025 college football season began, with contract buyouts totaling roughly $93.33 million:
- Penn State, James Franklin: $49.7 million
- Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy: $15 million
- Arkansas, Sam Pittman: $9.8 million
- UCLA, DeShaun Foster: $6.43 million
- Virginia Tech, Brent Pry: $6 million
- Oregon State, Trent Bray: $4 million
- UAB, Trent Dilfer: $2.4 million
This season has already turned out to be much more expensive than 2024, as 15 FBS firings either midseason or in the days immediately following the regular season accounted for only roughly $36 million in buyout fees.
In 2023, a record $118 million in contract buyouts was spent, led by the unprecedented $76.8 million cost for Texas A&M to fire Jimbo Fisher.
More to Come?
As is the case every season, other high-priced coaches remain on the presumed hot seat, which could add to the growing buyout total.
North Carolina would have to pay more than $20 million to fire Bill Belichick, as unrest continues to grow around his debut season in Chapel Hill. Florida State, 3–3 after losing three consecutive games, would owe Mike Norvell roughly $58 million to move on from the sixth-year coach.
