When Nick Saban retired from coaching last year, it caused a rumble within college football for more than one reason. He had the most titles in NCAA history and was the highest-paid college football coach, earning $11.4 million in 2023.
His protege, Kirby Smart, stepped right into his place as the highest-paid college football coach after Georgia recently approved to pay him $13 million a season.
Smart was already making over $10 million, with an increase to $11 million set for 2025 before the announcement. But Georgia rewarded the coach early after posting a 94-16 record in nine seasons and back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Ryan Day of Ohio State takes second at $12.5 million. Ohio State rewarded him with an extension until 2031 in February after he led the team to its first national championship since 2014.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney rounds out the top three. Swinney, the only active college football coach besides Smart with multiple national titles (in 2016 and 2018), earns $11.5 million per year under his current contract.
Leaping into the top four is Oregon’s Dan Lanning, who led the Ducks to an undefeated regular season before their loss to Ohio State in the 2025 Rose Bowl. Lanning signed a new contract extension in March worth $11 million annually.
Colorado’s Deion Sanders comes in tied for fifth at $10.8 million annually. Sanders signed a $54 million extension in March for his role in reinvigorating the once-moribund program, both in wins and national interest.
Colorado inked the extension after rumors of Sanders possibly taking the leap to the NFL emerged with his meeting with Jerry Jones of the Cowboys.
Steve Sarkisian also earns $10.8 million per year after Texas gave him a one-year extension and raise this offseason following the Longhorns’ second straight trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Bill Belichick’s arrival on the college football scene sent shockwaves throughout the football world.
His five-year, $50 million contract at UNC will give him $10 million annually to put him in the top 10. Whether he can adapt to the college landscape in the NIL era as a 72-year-old is the question, but the Tar Heels are betting on his experience in the NFL to translate at the college level.
The SEC dominates the top 25 highest-paid college football coaches, with eleven from the conference.
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer earned $10 million in his first season coaching the Crimson Tide in 2024. That contract increases to $10.25 million in 2025.
Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss, Josh Heupel of Tennessee, Eliah Drinkwitz of Missouri, and Mark Stoops of Kentucky each earn $9 million per year to tie in tenth.
Ranking The Top 25 Highest-Paid College Football Coaches
Here is the full list of the top 25 college football head coach salaries, compiled using data from USA Today, Yahoo Sports, ESPN and The Athletic.
- Updated: March 29, 2025
| Rank | Coach | College | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13 million |
| 2 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $12.5 million |
| 3 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $11.5 million |
| 4 | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $11 million |
| T-5 | Deion Sanders | Colorado | $10.8 million |
| T-5 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.8 million |
| 7 | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10.25 million |
| 8 | Lincoln Riley | USC | $10.2 million |
| 9 | Bill Belichick | North Carolina | $10 million |
| 10 | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9.9 million |
| T-11 | Eliah Drinkwitz | Missouri | $9 million |
| T-11 | Lane Kiffin | Ole Miss | $9 million |
| T-11 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9 million |
| T-11 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $9 million |
| T-15 | James Franklin | Penn State | $8.5 million |
| T-15 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $8.5 million |
| 17 | Mario Cristobal | Miami | $8 million |
| 18 | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.8 million |
| 19 | Jedd Fisch | Washington | $7.75 million |
| 20 | Billy Napier | Florida | $7.29 million |
| T-21 | Jonathan Smith | Michigan State | $7.25 million |
| T-21 | Kenny Dillingham | Arizona State | $7.25 million |
| 23 | Lance Leipold | Kansas | $7.1 million |
| T-24 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7 million |
| T-24 | Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $7 million |
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