When Nick Saban retired from coaching earlier this 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, 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.
The SEC dominates the top 10 highest-paid college football coaches with seven from the conference.
Alabama’s newly hired Kalen DeBoer will make $10 million in his first season coaching, tied for fifth. But the Tide will pay Washington much more after buying out his previous contract with them.
Newcomer to the SEC, Texas, pays its coach Steve Sarkisian $10.6 million, putting him fourth on the list. He’s receiving a 47% increase in his salary from 2023 after signing an extension this offseason with the Longhorns that retains him through the 2030 season.
Two ACC schools have coaches among the top five highest-paid, Clemson and Florida State.
Dabo Swinney of the Tigers earns $11.5 million, good for second, right ahead of USC’s Lincoln Riley.
Mike Norvell of the Seminoles earns $9.8 million and has the opportunity to make over $1 million in bonuses in 2024.
Florida State and Clemson are embroiled in a lawsuit with the ACC that could determine if the schools can leave the conference without paying enormous exit fees.
Ryan Day of Ohio State makes $9.5 million annually, and is the only other coach in the top 10 not at an SEC school.
Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss, Josh Heupel of Tennessee, and Mark Stoops of Kentucky each earn $9 million per year to tie in ninth.
Ranking The Top 25 Highest Paid College Football Coaches
Here is the full list of the top 25 college football head coach salaries. The list was compiled with data from USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and The Athletic.
- Updated: July 26, 2024
| Rank | Coach | College | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13 million |
| 2 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $11.5 million |
| 3 | Lincoln Riley | USC | $11 million |
| 4 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.3 million |
| 5 | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10 million |
| 6 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $9.8 million |
| T-7 | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9.5 million |
| T-7 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $9.5 million |
| T-9 | Lane Kiffin | Ole Miss | $9 million |
| T-9 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9 million |
| T-9 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $9 million |
| 12 | James Franklin | Penn State | $8.5 million |
| 13 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $8.2 million |
| 14 | Mario Cristobal | Miami | $8 million |
| 15 | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $7.75 million |
| 16 | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.6 million |
| 17 | Billy Napier | Florida | $7.3 million |
| T-18 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7 million |
| T-18 | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $7 million |
| 20 | Matt Rhule | Nebraska | $6.78 million |
| 21 | Hugh Freeze | Auburn | $6.73 million |
| 22 | Kyle Whittingham | Utah | $6.5 million |
| 23 | Sam Pittman | Arkansas | $6.46 million |
| 24 | Shane Beamer | South Carolina | $6.4 million |
| 25 | Bret Bielema | Illinois | $6.2 million |
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