USA Today: 7 worst deals among college football coaches contracts

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1. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

Why it’s a bad contract: Massively overrated to start this season, Texas A&M will finish 7-5 if its remaining games go as expected. That means Fisher’s first two years won’t be much different record-wise than Sumlin’s final two. Though recruiting has gone well for Fisher, there’s a legitimate question about whether his best days as an offensive innovator/quarterback guru are behind him. When you look at the evolution of programs like Alabama and LSU, Fisher’s pro style system looks like a relic and relies heavily on a complicated playbook that not all quarterbacks can handle. As we saw late in his tenure at Florida State and early this season, Fisher’s offense falls apart without a great offensive line. If Fisher can’t evolve the way other top programs have, Texas A&M will be paying an above-market rate mostly for the national championship he won with another school.

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5. Kirby Smart, Georgia

Why it’s a bad contract: The largesse of Smart’s deal is tied almost exclusively to the market rate established by his peers, not the demand for him specifically. In other words, if Georgia had told Smart that it would pay him $5 million a year with a $10 million buyout — take it or leave it — would there be another college program or NFL team willing to pay him more or offer him a better situation? Probably not. Smart is a Georgia guy who is uniquely positioned at his alma mater to capitalize on an in-state talent base that’s good enough to win the national title. And yet if he doesn’t deliver that in the next few years — remember, Richt’s record through his first 3½ seasons was just as good as Smart’s — this will look like a big overpay.

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7. Chad Morris, Arkansas

Why it’s a bad contract: Plucking a successful coach from a Group of Five program is always a bit of a gamble for a Power Five school because you just don’t know if it will translate. But in Morris’ case, he hadn’t even been particularly successful at SMU with a 14-22 overall record. Though in fairness the team had improved each year, going 7-5 in his final season there, Morris’ reputation was largely formed due to his work as Clemson’s offensive coordinator. So far, though, it’s been a debacle at Arkansas as he’s 0-12 in the SEC (4-15 overall), has yet to beat a Power Five team and has lost to the likes of North Texas, Colorado State and San Jose State. 

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