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The buyout narrative and coaching hires
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:34 pm
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:34 pm
Perhaps this topic has been discussed already or perhaps it should be moved to the coaching searches board. If either of those are the case I apologize.
In my opinion, the case of LSU and the exorbitant buyouts of Sumlin and Kelly are going to change the way D1 coaches construct contracts (particularly public schools). I just don’t see public universities offering guaranteed contracts for a while until this thing calms down a bit. The Texas A&M and LSU cases are definitely the most extreme examples but there are others.
Indiana is probably kicking themselves for not waiting a little while before offering $93 million in guaranteed money. (Yikes)
Here are the top 20 active fully guaranteed college football coaching contracts:
1. Kirby Smart (Georgia): $105.1 million (10-year, $130M deal thru ~2034; $13.3M annual pay)
2. Ryan Day (Ohio State): $70.9 million (thru ~2030; $12.6M annual)
3. Dabo Swinney (Clemson): $60.0 million (100% guaranteed thru ~2031; $11.4M annual)
4. Steve Sarkisian (Texas): $60.3 million (85% thru ~2032; $10.8M annual)
5. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama): $60.8 million (90% thru ~2032; $10.3M annual)
6. Curt Cignetti (Indiana): $56.7 million ($8.3M annual)
7. Matt Rhule (Nebraska): $49.6 million (8-year deal thru ~2030; $8.5M annual) ? ?
8. Bret Bielema (Illinois): $49.5 million ($8.2M annual)
9. Mike Norvell (Florida State): $58.7 million (thru ~2031; $5.7M annual)
10. Jeff Brohm (Louisville): $33.6 million ($6.0M annual)
11. Barry Odom (Purdue): $25.1 million ($6.1M annual)
12. Chris Klieman (Kansas State): $29.6 million ($5.3M annual)
13. Matt Campbell (Iowa State): $35.4 million ($5.0M annual)
14. Jonathan Smith (Michigan State): $33.0 million ($7.4M annual)
15. Josh Heupel (Tennessee): $37.5 million ($9.0M annual)
16. Mark Stoops (Kentucky): $37.7 million ($9.0M annual)
17. Deion Sanders (Colorado): $33.6 million ($9.0M annual)
18. Jedd Fisch (Washington): $33.7 million ($7.6M annual)
19. Brent Venables (Oklahoma): $36.2 million ($7.6M annual)
20. Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri): $28.9 million ($9.0M annual)
So does this make things difficult for LSU to hire their next coach?
I could see contracts being constructed with more massive bonuses structures if certain benchmarks were met perhaps.
Thoughts?
In my opinion, the case of LSU and the exorbitant buyouts of Sumlin and Kelly are going to change the way D1 coaches construct contracts (particularly public schools). I just don’t see public universities offering guaranteed contracts for a while until this thing calms down a bit. The Texas A&M and LSU cases are definitely the most extreme examples but there are others.
Indiana is probably kicking themselves for not waiting a little while before offering $93 million in guaranteed money. (Yikes)
Here are the top 20 active fully guaranteed college football coaching contracts:
1. Kirby Smart (Georgia): $105.1 million (10-year, $130M deal thru ~2034; $13.3M annual pay)
2. Ryan Day (Ohio State): $70.9 million (thru ~2030; $12.6M annual)
3. Dabo Swinney (Clemson): $60.0 million (100% guaranteed thru ~2031; $11.4M annual)
4. Steve Sarkisian (Texas): $60.3 million (85% thru ~2032; $10.8M annual)
5. Kalen DeBoer (Alabama): $60.8 million (90% thru ~2032; $10.3M annual)
6. Curt Cignetti (Indiana): $56.7 million ($8.3M annual)
7. Matt Rhule (Nebraska): $49.6 million (8-year deal thru ~2030; $8.5M annual) ? ?
8. Bret Bielema (Illinois): $49.5 million ($8.2M annual)
9. Mike Norvell (Florida State): $58.7 million (thru ~2031; $5.7M annual)
10. Jeff Brohm (Louisville): $33.6 million ($6.0M annual)
11. Barry Odom (Purdue): $25.1 million ($6.1M annual)
12. Chris Klieman (Kansas State): $29.6 million ($5.3M annual)
13. Matt Campbell (Iowa State): $35.4 million ($5.0M annual)
14. Jonathan Smith (Michigan State): $33.0 million ($7.4M annual)
15. Josh Heupel (Tennessee): $37.5 million ($9.0M annual)
16. Mark Stoops (Kentucky): $37.7 million ($9.0M annual)
17. Deion Sanders (Colorado): $33.6 million ($9.0M annual)
18. Jedd Fisch (Washington): $33.7 million ($7.6M annual)
19. Brent Venables (Oklahoma): $36.2 million ($7.6M annual)
20. Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri): $28.9 million ($9.0M annual)
So does this make things difficult for LSU to hire their next coach?
I could see contracts being constructed with more massive bonuses structures if certain benchmarks were met perhaps.
Thoughts?
5
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:37 pm to AlaskaAg
Missing Lane Kiffin's buyout. Somewhere in the high $30M.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:39 pm to AlaskaAg
what incentive would any coach with options have to sign a contract structured around performance based incentives? there’s a reason contracts don’t work this way. a 12 year olds understanding of how this all works tbh.
nobody is forcing these schools to structure these contracts this way. they are welcome to hire some desperate bum instead of the cream of the crop if they can’t afford it.
but if they want an elite talent, this is the price. that’s capitalism.
nobody is forcing these schools to structure these contracts this way. they are welcome to hire some desperate bum instead of the cream of the crop if they can’t afford it.
but if they want an elite talent, this is the price. that’s capitalism.
This post was edited on 10/31/25 at 3:41 pm
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:41 pm to aspiclark
Mike Elko has an incentive-based contract and is likely to make around 13M tor more this year if A&M is in the playoffs.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:41 pm to aspiclark
Oh I agree. I also believe that administrators and athletic directors care more about self preservation than loading a contract with guaranteed money when the current narrative is what it is. I could see it being an issue from a narrative and PR perspective.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:44 pm to NobodyImportant
He has to make it to the CFP final to make that much.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:44 pm to NobodyImportant
elko has a 7 million dollar base salary and 20+ million dollar buyout. he’s also going to get a massive raise this year. a&m paid up to get him from duke. genuinely laughable to claim his contract fits the non existent model op is proposing.
This post was edited on 10/31/25 at 3:47 pm
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:47 pm to aspiclark
I’m not proposing anything except that the narrative around large guaranteed contracts and no cause buyouts may be difficult moving forward and that larger incentive based contracts might be more prominent in the short term. You’re being awfully salty. Why?
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:47 pm to AlaskaAg
right, which is a completely nonsensical point of view.
i’m not salty, just commenting on the wishful thinking being expressed here. there is no crisis here except the desperate, erratic leadership at lsu.
the idea that there is some kind of market correction coming where coaches will have to take less friendly contracts as more money floods the sport is trailer park brained wishful thinking.
i’m not salty, just commenting on the wishful thinking being expressed here. there is no crisis here except the desperate, erratic leadership at lsu.
the idea that there is some kind of market correction coming where coaches will have to take less friendly contracts as more money floods the sport is trailer park brained wishful thinking.
This post was edited on 10/31/25 at 3:50 pm
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:49 pm to aspiclark
Okay. So you’re just an a-hole. Got it.
Anyway
Anyway
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:50 pm to AlaskaAg
quote:
Indiana is probably kicking themselves for not waiting a little while before offering $93 million in guaranteed money.
Indiana is a perennial 3-5 game winning program, if all they get out of it is three years it'll probably be the best of their existence.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:50 pm to AlaskaAg
do you know how many variations of “we have to make the coaches take performance based contracts” have been posted here this week? you’re dented my man.
This post was edited on 10/31/25 at 3:51 pm
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:52 pm to aspiclark
Literally look at the first sentence in my post you insufferable twat.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:52 pm to AlaskaAg
i read your little post cleetus.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:54 pm to aspiclark
These buyouts are ridiculous but do any of them have an out to go to another job.Those buyouts are for firings what would be the cost if the coaches leave of their own valision.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 3:56 pm to RGT
this is all specified in the contract, typically if the coach terminates the agreement he’s owed nothing.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:05 pm to AlaskaAg
The problem is contract length.
Every stated legislature should set a max contract length for college football coaches at 5 years.
Every stated legislature should set a max contract length for college football coaches at 5 years.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 6:12 pm to AlaskaAg
Colorado is as stupid as we are
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