2025-26 Coaching Carousel

[2010sarenevercomingback]

Even in LA it was hard to recruit kids because the kids look at it as an isolated place with nothing to do.

But the whole discussion above was not that you can't recruit to Oregon - clearly it is possible. It was that it is has been a very hard job as a coach to recruit to Oregon - not just to convince players to come but to take the time to go and see them, get their families to Eugene, etc. So much so that established HCs did not want to go to Oregon and coordinators took the job with a goal of leaving as soon as they could get the initial HC experience. It has been a steppingstone job.

You're going back to geography, which again, I agree is not a major point in their favor, but it is far from the only/complete determination of what makes a school easy/hard to recruit to.

As far as the coaches, I would argue that 6 consecutive different head coaches putting up very good recruiting classes almost every year is a strong indication that the school itself is in a pretty solid place, institutionally.

 

[Carm]

You're going back to geography, which again, I agree is not a major point in their favor, but it is far from the only/complete determination of what makes a school easy/hard to recruit to.

As far as the coaches, I would argue that 6 consecutive different head coaches putting up very good recruiting classes almost every year is a strong indication that the school itself is in a pretty solid place, institutionally.

View attachment 59688

I'll say it again - I am not arguing you can't recruit to Oregon. I am arguing that successfully recruiting there is sufficiently hard (i.e., hard tome-consuming work) enough that it was a major reason that Oregon was never a destination job and was instead a steppingstone job (which is what it has been - and the University knew it).

I completely agree it is possible to recruit to Oregon.

 

[Hedley Lamarr]

Sorry, I'm not making this up. I read it on Oregon boards contemporaneously.

The Oregon job is extremely difficult. The travel for coaches to recruit is terrible.

The buyout I am talking about is if Lanning chooses to leave, not what he gets if he gets fired. Buyouts the coaches have to pay to leave are fairly rare and much smaller than firing buyouts. Kirby Smart's buyout he owes Georgia if he takes another job is only $5M, for example. I think Matt Rhule pays Zero to Nebraska if he quits.

Through December 31, Rhule’s buyout is $7 million if he chooses to leave the university. That number decreases by $1 million annually until it hits $3.5 million. It will then stay at $3.5 million through 2029 before again dropping to $2 million in 2030.

 

[cwessel76]

Kiss of death

 

[Irv]

Kiss of death

What’s reassuring about those statements is the level of detail.

 

[Carm]

Handy table of contract buyouts for fired coaches (what the school pays, not what the coach owes if he quits)

Top 25 largest buyouts for college football head coaches in 2025​

by: Nick Schultz14 hours agoNickSchultz_7

As coaching salaries rise in college football, so do the buyouts. USA Today has released its updated data for the largest buyouts in the sport for 2025.

One head coach has a six-figure buyout if the school was to part ways, as of Dec. 1. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart tops the list at $105.1 million, followed by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day at $70.9 million. From there, another group of coaches sit at around $60 million, including Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian.

All figures are the buyouts due as of Dec. 1, 2025. Here are the Top 25 largest buyouts for college football head coaches, according to USA Today.

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia – $105.1 million​

College football’s highest-paid coach, Kirby Smart also has the largest buyout in the sport at $105.1 million. That figure is part of a 10-year, $130 million deal he signed in 2024.

Smart has two national championship rings at Georgia and led the Bulldogs to an SEC title last season. UGA is currently 4-1 in 2025, fresh off a bounce-back victory over Kentucky last time out.

2. Ryan Day, Ohio State – $70.9 million​

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Fresh off his first national championship as head coach, Ryan Day received a new contract at Ohio State. He’s not only the second-highest paid coach in the game, but also has the second-largest buyout at $70.9 million.

Day has a career 75-10 record at Ohio State and has led the program to 11 wins each season, outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. The Buckeyes haven’t missed a beat this year with a 5-0 record after multiple major changes on the roster and coaching staff.

3. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama – $60.8 million​

When Kalen DeBoer took over for Nick Saban at Alabama, he landed a salary of more than $10 million per year. He also has a $60.8 million buyout, which sits as the third-largest in college football.

Alabama went 9-4 in DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa in 2024 and started off this year with a loss to Florida State. However, the Crimson Tide turned things around since to take a 4-1 record into Week 7, including a road win at Georgia.

4. Steve Sarkisian, Texas – $60.3 million​

Earlier this year, after Texas made a second straight national semifinal, Steve Sarkisian received a new contract. It also adjusted his buyout, which is now worth $60.3 million and the fourth-largest in college football.

Sarkisian’s new deal also makes him the fifth-highest paid coach in college football with a $10.8 million salary. Texas has had an up-and-down start to 2025, taking a 3-2 record into Week 7 and falling out of the AP poll following a loss at Florida.

5. Dabo Swinney, Clemson – $60 million​

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The fourth-highest paid coach in college football, Dabo Swinney also has the fifth-largest buyout. At $60 million, he’s one of five coaches at that mark.

Swinney has had an up-and-down go through his 18th season at Clemson with a 3-2 record, including losses to LSU and Georgia Tech. The Tigers put on a show last week against North Carolina, though, as they look to stay in the ACC race.

6. Mike Norvell, Florida State – $58.7 million​

At Florida State, Mike Norvell has college football’s sixth-largest buyout at $58.7 million. He adjusted his annual salary ahead of 2025, though, following a two-win campaign last year.

As a result of his restructured contract, Norvell’s salary is $5.7 million this year, which ranks 45th in college football. He made sweeping coaching staff changes as he brought in new OC Gus Malzahn and DC Tony White, an FSU has a 3-2 record entering Week 7.

7. Dan Lanning, Oregon – $56.73 million​

Earlier this year, after Oregon won a Big Ten title in its debut season, Dan Lanning received a new contract through 2030. His buyout is also among the 10 largest in college football, sitting at $56.7 million as of Dec. 1.

Despite major roster turnover, Oregon has emerged as one of the top teams in the country this year with a 5-0 record and statement win at Penn State. A big matchup awaits this week, though, as the Ducks take on Indiana out of the bye.

8. Curt Cignetti, Indiana – $56.70 million​

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After engineering an immediate turnaround at Indiana, Curt Cignetti received a huge new contract. His buyout now ranks among the highest in college football at $56.7 million.

IU made the College Football Playoff one year after 3-9 record under the former regime. The Hoosiers are once again looking the part to start 2025, taking a perfect 5-0 record into this week’s marquee matchup against Oregon in Eugene.

9. Brian Kelly, LSU – $53.3 million​

The fourth-largest buyout in the SEC, Brian Kelly’s figure sits at $53.3 million as of Dec. 1. That’s part of a 10-year deal he signed with LSU in 2021 after leaving Notre Dame.

Kelly has a 33-12 record with the Tigers, including back-to-back 10-win seasons to start his tenure. The program hasn’t made the College Football Playoff under his watch, though, but is seen as a possible contender this year.

10. Matt Rhule, Nebraska – $49.6 million​

Rounding out the 10 largest buyouts in college football, Matt Rhule’s figure at Nebraska sits at just under $50 million. Rhule signed an eight-year deal with the Cornhuskers in 2022, and the program is off to a strong start to 2025.

Nebraska is 4-1 so far this year after ending its bowl drought last season. Rhule is looking or a second straight season above .500 in Lincoln as he continues to turn the Huskers program around.

Largest buyouts: 11-25​

11. Bret Bielema, Illinois – $49.5 million
12. James Franklin, Penn State – $48.7 million
13. Mark Stoops, Kentucky – $37.7 million
14. Josh Heupel, Tennessee – $37.5 million
15. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss – $36.6 million
16. Brent Venables, Oklahoma – $36.2 million
17. Matt Campbell, Cockeye State – $35.4 million
18. Jedd Fisch, Washington – $33.7 million
19. Jeff Brohm, Louisville – $33.633 million
20. Deion Sanders, Colorado – $33.625 million
21. Jonathan Smith, Michigan State – $33 million
22. Chris Klieman, Kansas State – $29.6 million
23. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri – $28.9 million
24. Shane Beamer, South Carolina – $27.9 million
25. Luke #2ndChoice, Wisconsin – $27.5 million

The data from USA Today reflects the buyout info as of Dec. 1, 2025.

 

[Alcaus]

Pretty sure Lanning already turned down Bama, but it might be a different story if you’re not following Saban.

Re: PSU, I don’t think they will fire him, but there ain’t no way he’s going to be allowed to fire the coordinators. They pay them a ton. Knowles is the highest paid DC in the country.

His coordinators are the guys he hand selected to get the team over the top. Either it works or it doesn’t.

What does Bama have that Oregon does not? Is it location?

I can’t see Bama being a better job.

 

[Dell Husker]

Can’t see shit

 

[V-Doub]

What does Bama have that Oregon does not? Is it location?

I can’t see Bama being a better job.

ESPN will suck your dick with more passion and vigor? 🤷‍♂️

 

[Fargo Husker]

Can’t see shit

UCLA: Jedd Fisch, Dave Aranda, Brent Brennan, Tosh Lupoi

Okie St: GJ Kinne, Zac Robinson, Todd Monken, Eric Morris, Will Stein, Dana Holgorsen, Shannon Dawson, Ben Arbuckle, Jim Knowles, Eric Henderson

Arkansas: Rhett Lashlee, John Sumrall, Alex Golesh, Eric Morris, Bobby Petrino(!)

VTech: Bob Chensey, Ryan Silverfield, Charles Huff, Jason Candle, Clark Lea, Shane Beamer

Stanford: Tavita Pritchard

 

[nscottie]

UCLA: Jedd Fisch, Dave Aranda, Brent Brennan, Tosh Lupoi

Okie St: GJ Kinne, Zac Robinson, Todd Monken, Eric Morris, Will Stein, Dana Holgorsen, Shannon Dawson, Ben Arbuckle, Jim Knowles, Eric Henderson

Arkansas: Rhett Lashlee, John Sumrall, Alex Golesh, Eric Morris, Bobby Petrino(!)

VTech: Bob Chensey, Ryan Silverfield, Charles Huff, Jason Candle, Clark Lea, Shane Beamer

Stanford: Tavita Pritchard

So no Tony White to UCLA. Monkeytits to Okie Light seems a match made in heaven

 

[Baron Winnebago]

So no Tony White to UCLA. Monkeytits to Okie Light seems a match made in heaven

Tony couldn't stop the Scatfense right now #poop

 

[Irv]

So no Tony White to UCLA. Monkeytits to Okie Light seems a match made in heaven

They’re taking about Money Tits 2: Georgia Jugs