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.
Dabo Swinney of the Tigers earns $11.5 million, good for second.
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.
Newcomer to the SEC, Texas, pays its coach Steve Sarkisian $10.6 million, putting him third on the list. He’s receiving a 47% increase in his salary from 2023 after signing an extension last offseason with the Longhorns that retains him through the 2030 season.
Bill Belichick’s arrival on the college football scene is sending 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 10 highest-paid college football coaches with seven from the conference.
Alabama’s newly hired Kalen DeBoer earned $10 million in his first season coaching, tied for sixth. But the Tide will pay 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. The list was compiled with data from USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and The Athletic.
- Updated: February 6, 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 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.6 million |
| 5 | Lincoln Riley | USC | $10.04 million |
| T-6 | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $10 million |
| T-6 | Bill Belichick | UNC | $10 million |
| T-6 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $10 million |
| 9 | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9.98 million |
| T-10 | Eliah Drinkwitz | Missouri | $9 million |
| T-10 | Lane Kiffin | Ole Miss | $9 million |
| T-10 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9 million |
| T-10 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $9 million |
| 14 | James Franklin | Penn State | $8.5 million |
| 15 | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $8.2 million |
| 16 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $8.15 million |
| 17 | Mario Cristobal | Miami | $7.78 million |
| 18 | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.73 million |
| 19 | Jedd Fisch | Washington | $7.7 million |
| 20 | Lance Leipold | Kansas | $7.5 million |
| 21 | Billy Napier | Florida | $7.4 million |
| 22 | Jonathan Smith | Michigan State | $7.3 million |
| 23 | Kenny Dillingham | Arizona State | $7.25 million |
| T-24 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7 million |
| T-24 | Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $7 million |
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