Led again by Alabama’s Nick Saban, USA Today’s annual list of highest-paid college football head coach salaries at public universities features seven SEC head coaches in the top 10.
Saban’s protege Kirby Smart — now a back-to-back national champion with Georgia — checks in at No. 3 on the list. LSU’s Brian Kelly, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher, Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, and Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin occupy the entire latter half of the top 10.
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney again takes the runner-up spot and is the only ACC entry until Florida State’s Mike Norvell pops up at No. 15.
For the Big Ten, Ohio State’s Ryan Day jumps up to No. 4, while Michigan State’s Mel Tucker technically still occupies the fifth spot — though he is likely to leave the list entirely after he was fired for cause after a sexual harassment investigation.
College football’s buzziest head coach, Deion Sanders, ranks 32nd, making $5.5 million in his first season with Colorado.
Here is the full list of the top 25 college football head coach salaries as of the 2023 season, with the only two private schools entries — USC’s Lincoln Riley and Miami’s Mario Cristobal — included with reported salaries.
Top 25 Highest Paid
| 1. | Nick Saban | Alabama | $11.4M |
| 2. | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $10.9M |
| 3. | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $10.7M |
| 4. | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $10.3M |
| 5. | Mel Tucker* | Michigan State | $10M |
| 6. | Lincoln Riley | USC | estimated $10M |
| 7. | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9.9M |
| 8. | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $9.1M |
| 9. | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $9.01M |
| 10. | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9M |
| 11. | Lane Kiffin | Mississippi | $9M |
| 12. | James Franklin | Penn State | $8.5M |
| 13. | Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | $8.3M |
| 14. | Mario Cristobal | Miami | reported $8M |
| 15. | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.6M |
| 16. | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $7.6M |
| 17. | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $7.3M |
| 18. | Billy Napier | Florida | $7.3M |
| 19. | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $7.1M |
| 20. | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7M |
| 21. | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $6.6M |
| 22. | Hugh Freeze | Auburn | $6.5M |
| 23. | Bret Bielema | Illinois | $6.5M |
| 24. | Sam Pittman | Arkansas | $6.4M |
| 25. | Kyle Whittingham | Utah | $6.3M |
Updated: Oct. 4, 2023
Post has been updated with USA Today’s latest data.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2023
*Was fired by Michigan State.
