Auburn pays insane amount for three buyouts, still less than what LSU owed Brian Kelly

Jeff Hauser

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Auburn pays insane amount for three buyouts, still less than what LSU owed Brian Kelly image

Auburn made the decision to fire Hugh Freeze in the midst of his third season. The move sets up another opening at a top SEC destination and the school owing him roughly $15.8 million in a buyout. If you include the previous two buyouts given to Gus Malzahn and Brian Harsin, Auburn is shelling out a total of $52 million. 

While this might seem like a big payout, it's still less than what LSU owed Brian Kelly at $54 million. But it seems the other Tigers have negotiated the terms of college football's second-largest buyout down to half the total, according to reports. 

However, the eight-figure payment is still insane either way you look at it. Auburn can't find the right coach and keeps paying for it. On the other hand, LSU had a home run hire and let him walk. 

Auburn will have paid its last 3 football coaches $52 MILLION in buyouts.

- Gus Malzahn: $21 million
- Brian Harsin: $15 million
- Hugh Freeze: $16 million pic.twitter.com/nmJUwg39ny

Freeze is the eleventh FBS coach fired for an in-season record. The overall total is now up to $183.5 million for an average of $16.6 million per coach.

More: 5 names to watch as possible replacement for Hugh Freeze at Auburn

Kelly, James Franklin, and Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin will be the top names on many short lists as the coaching carousel heats up with a month to go in the season.  

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