College football's $150 million coaching meltdown
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Major college football programs have dumped coaches at a stunning pace this season and are shelling out more than $150 million in buyouts to start fresh.
Why it matters: A playoffs-or-bust mentality is pushing schools to cut ties with coaches faster than ever — regardless of the cost.
By the numbers: Colleges are on the hook for at least $145 million in buyouts for fired head coaches and their assistants so far this season.
- Four of the top 10 biggest buyouts in college football history have been triggered by firings this season.
Zoom in: The 2025 season has been a bloodbath. So far, at least 13 coaches have been axed, and four of them — LSU's Brian Kelly, Auburn's Hugh Freeze, Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy and Florida's Billy Napier — netted buyouts worth at least $15 million.
- LSU fired Kelly last month and now owes him roughly $54 million, which the school said they would pay after Kelly rejected two settlement offers from the school and sued for the full amount.
- His massive buyout is the second-highest ever, trailing only former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher's $77 million total from his 2023 firing.
Between the lines: Penn State's firing of James Franklin in October generated a $49 million buyout that was negotiated down to $9 million after Franklin took over as Virginia Tech's head coach.
What to watch: The historic coaching carousel isn't over yet. Firings will heat up as the regular season ends after this weekend.
- Questions are also piling up about who will take high-profile jobs like LSU or Penn State.
- Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is entertaining a contract from LSU that would give him $14 million annually over seven years, according to CBS Sports — a deal that would make him the highest-paid in college football.
