College football's 30 highest-paid coaches in 2026, from Lane Kiffin to Deion Sanders

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College football's 30 highest-paid coaches in 2026, from Lane Kiffin to Deion Sanders originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Players aren't the only ones in college football raking in millions nowadays.

A lot of responsibility falls on a head coach in 2026, from the usual duties of creating a playbook, leading practices and speaking with media, to newer elements like utilizing NIL dollars, landing talent in the transfer portal and navigating the sport's increasingly-complicated legal situations.

All those jobs-within-one means that the best-of-the-best coaches can make eight-digit salaries. In the 2026 season, three coaches are reportedly making over $13 million.

Here's a look at college football's 30 highest-paid coaches in 2026, using figures from On3's Coaching Salaries Database.

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1. Kirby Smart, Georgia

2026 salary: $13.3 million

College football's highest-paid coach has been the same person for a few years now: Georgia's Kirby Smart. In 2024, he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal that made him the first coach to earn at least $13 million per year.

Smart, who led the Bulldogs to consecutive national titles in 2021 and 2022, is set to remain on the sidelines for Georgia through the 2033 season.

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2. Curt Cignetti, Indiana

2026 salary: $13 million

There has been no coach more successful over the past two years than Curt Cignetti, and now, he's paid as such. Indiana's leader has agreed to multiple new deals with the school in recent years, most recently revising his contract to average $13.2 million through the 2033 season.

Cignetti, after leading the Hoosiers to their first CFP title and a perfect season, received a pay boost from around $11.6 million annually thanks to his team's incredible run.

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3. Lane Kiffin, LSU

2026 salary: $13 million

There was no storyline more dramatic at the end of the 2025 college football season than Lane Kiffin's departure for LSU. Not only did Kiffin leave his playoff-bound Ole Miss team early, but he was paid handsomely to do so, landing a seven-year, $91 million deal that runs through the 2032 season.

Kiffin has earned a reputation as a big spender in the transfer portal. Now, not only will he have deep pockets to pursue stars with the Tigers, but he'll be making plenty of money himself.

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4. Ryan Day, Ohio State

2026 salary: $12.6 million

After Ohio State won the national title in January 2025, it rewarded its head coach, Ryan Day, with a new deal. Day's new contract puts him among the sport's highest-paid coaches, making an average of $12.5 million per year through the 2031 season.

Day has helped the Buckeyes remain one of the premier destinations in college football, and he's set to remain in Columbus for years to come.

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5. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama

2026 salary: $12.5 million

Following in the footsteps of Nick Saban wasn't exactly easy, but Kalen DeBoer has kept Alabama toward the top of the SEC since taking over in 2024. With rumors of teams pursuing him in the 2026 coaching cycle, he received a new contract this past offseason.

DeBoer agreed to a seven-year, $87.5 million contract extension with the Crimson Tide, running through the 2033 season and paying him an average salary of $12.5 million per year.

6. Lincoln Riley, USC

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2026 salary: $11.5 million

In the modern college football landscape, most coaches demand extensions every few years to increase their financial worth with the threat of skipping town. Lincoln Riley hasn't done that, however, since agreeing to his massive 2022 deal with USC after leaving Oklahoma.

That year, Riley immediately became one of college football's highest-paid head coaches, agreeing to a 10-year deal worth $110 million. His average annual salary reportedly sits around $11.8 million.

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7. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

2026 salary: $11.4 million

Ahead of the 2022 season, one of college football's longest-tenured head coaches agreed to stick around at Clemson through 2031. Dabo Swinney landed a $115 million extension, making him still the highest-paid ACC coach as of 2026.

Swinney, who has coached the Tigers since 2009, has led the team to two national titles and is seeking a return to the CFP in 2026.

8. Steve Sarkisian, Texas

Steve Sarkisian reacts to Longhorns QB Arch Manning

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2026 salary: $11.1 million

Texas upped Steve Sarkisian's salary after the 2025 season. He was bumped up to an average salary of $10.8 million annually, with built-in raises taking that total up to $12.3 million by the final season in 2031.

While the Longhorns were the only team to make the CFP in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, they fell short in 2025, something Sarkisian will be looking to bounce back from this year.

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9. Mike Elko, Texas A&M

2026 salary: $10.8 million

It's no secret that Texas Tech is one of college football's biggest spenders, up there with Oregon and LSU among the schools most committed to financial success in the sport. Mike Elko agreed to a new extension this past offseason, the latest part of that financial commitment.

Elko's new six-year, $69 million extension runs through the 2031 season, paying an average salary of $11.5 million, along with performance incentives.

10. Dan Lanning, Oregon

2026 salary: $10.4 million

He doesn't yet have the national title to prove it, but Dan Lanning has quickly earned a reputation as one of college football's best coaches. Oregon's transition to the Big Ten has been seamless, and as of 2025, Lanning is making around $11 million per year over the life of his deal through the 2031 season.

Just 40 years old, Lanning is slated to continue leading the Ducks as they look to break through with a deep playoff run.

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11. Mike Norvell, Florida State

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2026 salary: $10.3 million

Mike Norvell looks to be on the hot seat entering 2026, owning a losing record in each of Florida State's last two seasons after strong years in 2022 and 2023. For now, however, the Seminoles continue to pay him an eight-digit salary.

Norvell's 2023 extension runs through the 2031 season, paying him over $10 million per year; his buyout is 85% of his remaining contract.

12. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri

2026 salary: $10.3 million

Amid rumors of him heading to some other high-profile jobs, Eli Drinkwitz knocked out an extension with Missouri this past offseason. He's now making over $10 million per year.

The six-year extension between Drinkwitz and the Tigers runs through the 2031 season, with a total compensation of $64.5 million.

13. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame

2026 salary: $10 million

Marcus Freeman has proved to be the right voice to lead Notre Dame football, keeping the Irish a consistent playoff threat during his tenure. In 2025, there were some rumors of him coaching the Chicago Bears, but instead, he agreed to a restructured deal to remain with the school through 2031.

While the school did not release official details, Freeman is expected to make around $10 million per season.

14. Deion Sanders, Colorado

2026 salary: $10 million

Deion Sanders has now been at the helm for Colorado for four years, and with only one of his three previous seasons resulting in a bowl game, there's more pressure in 2026. In the offseason following the Buffaloes' 2024 success led by Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, "Coach Prime" got a bigger contract.

Sanders agreed to a five-year, $54 million extension at Colorado, keeping him at the school through the 2029 season. His salary is set to increase to $11 million by 2027.

15. Bill Belichick, UNC

2026 salary: $10 million

It has not been a pretty start to the Bill Belichick era at UNC, from a four-win debut season, to off-the-field drama. But the Tar Heels have stuck by the legendary NFL coach so far after shockingly landing him in December 2024.

Belichick's five-year, $50 million contract runs through the 2029 season; the first three years of the deal were reportedly guaranteed if he is fired without cause before December 2027, a rough buyout total of $30 million.

16. Shane Beamer, South Carolina

2026 salary: $9.2 million

Following the 2024 season, South Carolina agreed to a new deal with head coach Shane Beamer after a nine-win campaign.

Beamer's extension runs through the 2030 season, paying him around $50 million in total with salary increases each year.

17. Josh Heupel, Tennessee

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2026 salary: $9 million

Tennessee rewarded head coach Josh Heupel ahead of the 2025 season, adding one year onto his deal so he's around with the Vols through the 2029 season.

Huepel's salary reportedly pays him $9 million per year before performance incentives.

18. Brent Venables, Oklahoma

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2026 salary: $8.7 million

One of the fresher college football head coach contracts is Brent Venables' at Oklahoma. Days before the 2026 season, he agreed to a new six-year extension to lead the Sooners.

Venables, under contract through the 2031 season, is expected to be making more than $10.5 million per season over the life of his new deal.

19. Matt Rhule, Nebraska

2026 salary: $8.5 million

Matt Rhule was one of a few coaches who opted to sign an extension during rumors connecting him to Penn State's vacancy in 2025. He ironed out a new deal with Nebraska, adding two years onto a contract that pays him around a total of $87 million.

Rhule is now under contract with the Cornhuskers through the 2032 season, with added incentives for CFP appearances.

20. Mario Cristobal, Miami

2026 salary: $8.3 million

Miami fell just short of a CFP title in 2025, but Mario Cristobal appeared to be the right leader for the Hurricanes. Thanks to their successful run, he got a new contract.

Cristobal reportedly agreed to a new Miami extension in August 2026, with details unknown. However, he was entering the season on the fifth year of a 10-year contract that ran through 2031 and paid him a reported $8 million annually.

21. Bret Bielema, Illinois

2026 salary: $8.2 million

Longtime college football coach Bret Bielema continues to lead Illinois, signing an extension in 2025 to remain with the Illini through the 2030 season.

Bielema's deal began at $7.7 million annually, slowly climbing through the life of the six-year period.

22. Matt Campbell, Penn State

2026 salary: $8 million

It took a while for Penn State to find the right voice for its program after parting ways with James Franklin, but former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is now at the helm in State College. He came with a cheaper contract than Franklin.

Campbell agreed to an eight-year, $70.5 million deal running through the 2033 season, starting him at $8 million in 2026 and $9.25 million by the end of the contract.

23. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan

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2026 salary: $8 million

Another Big Ten team with a new voice entering 2026 is Michigan, which landed on former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham this offseason.

Whittingham agreed to a five-year deal worth $41 million, keeping him with the Wolverines through the 2030 season.

24. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota

2026 salary: $7.9 million

After winning eight games for the second-straight season in 2025, Minnesota gave P.J. Fleck a new contract that included $700,000 management bonus on top of his existing $6 million salary and $1.2 million retention bonus.

That brought his 2026 salary to $7.9 million, with Fleck set to lead the Golden Gophers through the 2030 season.

25. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin

2026 salary: $7.8 million

Yet another college football coach facing some heat entering 2026 is Wisconsin's Luke Fickell — and the Badgers have made that clear. Owning a 17-21 record since taking over in 2022, Fickell requested that Wisconsin not give him "a customary one-year extension" this past offseason, per ESPN. He received those one-year extensions in 2023 and 2024.

Fickell originally signed a seven-year deal in 2022 that averages around $7.8 million per season, but may not last much longer at Wisconsin if things don't change.

26. Jedd Fisch, Washington

2026 salary: $7.7 million

After Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama, Washington landed Jedd Fisch in January 2024 to lead its football program.

He's coaching on a seven-year, $54 million contract, averaging around $7.75 million annually.

27. Jon Sumrall, Florida

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2026 salary: $7.5 million

With Billy Napier gone, Florida found its new head coach this offseason in Jon Sumrall, the former Troy and Tulane coach who is making the leap to the SEC.

Sumrall agreed to a six-year, $44.7 million deal to join the Gators, lasting through the 2031 season at $7.45 million per season.

28. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

2026 salary: $7.4 million

Not long after reaching the CFP for the first time in school history, Arizona State rewarded Kenny Dillingham with a new five-year deal that averages around $7.5 million annually.

Dillingham was in rumors to become Michigan's coach, but stuck with the Sun Devils through the 2030 season.

29. Pat Narduzzi, Pitt

2026 salary: $7.3 million

For over a decade now, Pat Narduzzi has been leading Pitt. And since 2022, he's been coaching on an extension that reportedly pays him around $7.3 million annually.

Narduzzi is under contract with the Panthers through the 2030 season.

30. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

2026 salary: $7.2 million

The longest-tenured head coach in college football has worked his way up to a significant salary. Kirk Ferentz is back for Year 28 at Iowa this fall, making just over $7 million.

Ferentz last signed an extension with the Hawkeyes in 2022, keeping him with the team through the 2029 season.

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