The cost of firing college football coaches has reached staggering new heights. According to a new report from the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, public FBS universities have paid nearly $1 billion in severance packages since the College Football Playoff (CFP) replaced the BCS in 2014.
These buyouts include payouts to both head and assistant coaches, with the trend accelerating in recent years as schools race to remain competitive. The total, based on NCAA financial data, is projected to surpass $1 billion by 2026.
Year-by-Year Breakdown of Buyouts
Here’s how college football buyouts have ballooned over the past decade:
- 2015: $32.3 million
- 2016: $39.9 million
- 2017: $48.3 million
- 2018: $104.1 million
- 2019: $68.9 million
- 2020: $61.6 million
- 2021: $84.7 million
- 2022: $98.2 million
- 2023: $103.1 million
- 2024: $120.7 million
- 2025 (projected): $34.7 million
- 2026 (projected): $185 million
The totals from 2015–2024 are official NCAA figures, while the 2025–2026 estimates are based on recent media reports.
The Largest Buyouts in College Football History
Among the most notable recent buyouts:
- LSU paid $53 million to part ways with Brian Kelly.
- Penn State owes $49.7 million after firing James Franklin.
- Texas A&M holds the all-time record with a $77 million buyout for Jimbo Fisher in 2023.
These figures highlight the financial risks universities take in chasing gridiron success.
Congressional Push for Salary Caps
The growing financial imbalance has caught the attention of lawmakers. Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.) introduced the COACH Act (Correcting Opportunity and Accountability in Collegiate Hiring Act), which would limit athletic department salaries—including football coaches—to no more than 10 times the school’s tuition costs.
Knight Commission CEO Amy Privette Perko praised the move, calling for greater accountability:
“As Congress debates limits on athlete compensation, it should also examine the excessive severance and salary growth for football coaches at nonprofit universities.”
What It Means for College Football
As the Knight Commission data reveals, coaching buyouts have become one of the most expensive elements of modern college athletics. With universities spending hundreds of millions on fired coaches, pressure is mounting for reforms that promote financial responsibility—especially as player compensation rules continue to evolve.