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, 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 leading the team to its first national championship since 2014.
Leaping into the top three is Colorado’s Deion Sanders at $10.8 million annually. Sanders signed a $54 million extension for his role in reinvigorating the 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.
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 tie for sixth. 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, tied for sixth. But the Tide paid Washington much more after buying out his previous contract with them.
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, 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 million |
| 4 | Deion Sanders | Colorado | $10.8 million |
| 5 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.6 million |
| 6 | Lincoln Riley | USC | $10.04 million |
| T-7 | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10 million |
| T-7 | Bill Belichick | UNC | $10 million |
| T-7 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $10 million |
| 10 | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9.98 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 |
| 15 | James Franklin | Penn State | $8.5 million |
| 16 | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $8.2 million |
| 17 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $8.15 million |
| 18 | Mario Cristobal | Miami | $7.78 million |
| 19 | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.73 million |
| 20 | Jedd Fisch | Washington | $7.7 million |
| 21 | Lance Leipold | Kansas | $7.5 million |
| 22 | Billy Napier | Florida | $7.4 million |
| 23 | Jonathan Smith | Michigan State | $7.3 million |
| 24 | Kenny Dillingham | Arizona State | $7.25 million |
| T-25 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7 million |
| T-25 | Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $7 million |
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