Money in college sports has gone absolutely nuclear. If you thought the transfer portal or NIL deals were the only things draining university coffers, you haven't looked at the sidelines lately. Coaching salaries have moved past "generous" and straight into "corporate CEO" territory. Honestly, it’s a little wild when you see the numbers.
Right now, if we’re talking about the highest paid college football coach, one name stands alone at the mountain top: Kirby Smart.
The Georgia Bulldogs leader isn't just winning games; he’s redefined the entire financial structure of the SEC. After signing a massive extension in mid-2024 that carries him through the 2033 season, Smart is slated to pull in roughly $13.2 million for the 2026 cycle. That’s not a typo. We are officially in the era of the $13 million-a-year coach.
The $13 Million Man and the SEC Arms Race
Why does Georgia pay him that much? Basically, because they have to. In a world where Nick Saban is no longer the benchmark for active salaries, Smart has become the gold standard. He’s delivered two national titles to Athens and kept the program in the playoff hunt basically every single year. When you’re that consistent, you get to dictate the terms.
His deal is fascinating because it’s not just about the base pay. It includes a $1.75 million annual raise compared to his previous agreement and a bonus structure that could tack on another $1.5 million depending on how deep the Bulldogs go in the expanded 12-team playoff.
But Smart isn't the only one shopping for private jets.
The 2026 Heavy Hitters
The gap between the top spot and the rest of the pack is shrinking fast. Look at Ryan Day over at Ohio State. After some intense pressure to finally get past Michigan and secure a national title, the Buckeyes brass locked him in with an extension that pays him $12.5 million annually through 2031. It’s a massive bet on stability.
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Then you’ve got the West Coast outlier. Lincoln Riley at USC. While the Trojans have had their fair share of defensive struggles and "growing pains" moving into the Big Ten, Riley’s bank account is doing just fine. Reports and tax filings suggest he’s clearing north of $11.5 million. Since USC is a private institution, they don't have to shout their numbers from the rooftops like Georgia or Ohio State, but the industry consensus is that he remains one of the top three highest-paid individuals in the sport.
Why Coaching Salaries Are Exploding Right Now
You might wonder where all this cash is coming from. It's the TV deals. The Big Ten and the SEC are currently splitting up media rights pies worth billions. When a school is getting a $60 million or $70 million check from a network every year, spending $12 million on the guy in the headset feels like a drop in the bucket.
There's also the "fear of loss" factor.
Losing a top-tier coach to a rival or the NFL can set a program back a decade. Look at what happened when Alabama had to replace Saban. They had to back up the truck for Kalen DeBoer, who is scheduled to earn $10.5 million in 2026. That’s a massive jump for a guy who was making less than half of that at Washington just a couple of seasons ago.
The Top 5 Salary Breakdown (Approximate 2026 Figures)
- Kirby Smart (Georgia): $13.2 Million. The undisputed king of the SEC.
- Ryan Day (Ohio State): $12.5 Million. High stakes, higher pay.
- Lincoln Riley (USC): ~$11.5 Million. Private school money at its finest.
- Dabo Swinney (Clemson): $11.5 Million. The "Alabama clause" in his contract remains a legendary piece of coaching lore.
- Steve Sarkisian (Texas): $10.8 Million. Texas is back, and so is their willingness to spend.
It’s worth noting that Bill Belichick jumping to the college ranks at North Carolina in late 2025 completely shifted the ACC landscape. He's reportedly sitting at a cool $10.1 million, which is basically unheard of for a program that isn't traditionally a "football school" in the same vein as the others on this list.
The Buyout Trap: The Hidden Cost of Winning
Everything looks great when the team is 11-1. But what happens when the wheels fall off? That’s where the real "highest paid" conversation gets messy.
Take Brian Kelly at LSU. While his base salary is comfortably in the $10 million range, his buyout structure is terrifying for the university. If a school wants to move on from a coach of this caliber, they often have to pay out 80% to 90% of the remaining contract. We’re talking about checks for $60 million or $70 million just to tell a guy to go away.
Florida found this out the hard way with Billy Napier. Texas A&M became the poster child for this when they cut Jimbo Fisher a check for $76 million. These aren't just salaries; they are long-term, guaranteed investments that can anchor a university's athletic department for years.
Performance vs. Paycheck
Is Kirby Smart worth $13 million? Most Georgia fans would say yes. They’ve seen the trophies.
Is Ryan Day worth $12.5 million? That depends on who you ask in Columbus after the Michigan game.
The pressure is higher than it’s ever been. You can't just be a good coach anymore; you have to be a CEO, a recruiter, a fundraiser, and a psychologist. If you fail at any of those, that massive salary becomes a giant target on your back.
What This Means for the Future of the Sport
We are likely headed toward a cap on these salaries, or at least a major reckoning. With the House v. NCAA settlement and the move toward schools paying players directly, something has to give. You can’t pay a coach $15 million and a roster of players another $20 million without some serious "creative accounting."
Or maybe you can. The revenue isn't slowing down.
If you're a young coach today, the goal isn't just to win a bowl game. It’s to get to that second contract. That’s where the "generational wealth" happens. Once you cross that $10 million threshold, you’ve essentially won the game, whether you win the National Championship or not.
How to Track Coaching Salaries Yourself
If you want to keep an eye on who is climbing the ranks, don't just look at the headlines. Follow these steps:
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- Check State Open Records: For public universities, salaries are public record. Sites like USA Today typically compile these every October.
- Watch the Extensions: Most pay jumps happen after a 10-win season. If a coach is entering "Year 3" with a winning record, expect a raise.
- Look at the Assistants: A high-paid head coach usually has a high-paid staff. If the Defensive Coordinator is making $2.5 million, the Head Coach is likely clearing $10 million.
The market for the highest paid college football coach isn't going to cool off anytime soon. As long as the TV networks keep writing checks and the boosters keep wanting wins, these numbers are only going one direction: up.
To stay ahead of the next big contract shift, keep an eye on the upcoming SEC and Big Ten media negotiations. Those numbers usually dictate exactly how much more Kirby Smart and his peers will be making by 2030.