With Brian Kelly out at LSU, he was expected to receive a $54 million buyout that topped the $49 million James Franklin is owed by Penn State. However, he's reportedly working on a reduced buyout. If we include all the money owed to Kelly, college football coaching buyouts have now reached a record $167.7 million this season. And we're only in October.
Kelly ended his embattled run after a three-and-a-half-season run in Baton Rouge. He signed a 10-year, $100 million contract in 2022, but failed to live up to expectations.
Three others are in the eight figures, too. Here's a look at the total across the entire college football landscape, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Fired college football coaches in 2025
LSU Tigers: Brian Kelly $54M
Penn State Nittany Lions: James Franklin $49M
Florida Gators: Billy Napier $21.4M
Oklahoma State Cowboys: Mike Gundy $15M
Arkansas Razorbacks: Sam Pittman $9.8M
Virginia Tech Hokies: Brent Pry $6.8M
UCLA Bruins: DeShaun Foster $6M
Oregon State Beavers: Trent Bray $4M
UAB Blazers: Trent Dilfer $3M
Colorado State Rams: Jay Norvell $1.5M
Hot seat coaches and respective buyouts
Clemson Tigers: Dabo Swinney: $60M
Florida State Seminoles: Mike Norvel $59M
Colorado Buffaloes: Deion Sanders $33.6M
Wisconsin Badgers: Luke Fickell $27.4M
North Carolina Tar Heels: Bill Belichick $20.8M
North Carolina State Wolfpack: Dave Doeren $13.1M
Needless to say, there will be more coaches headed for the exits before January. With LSU now open, there are three SEC positions that need to be filled. Kelly's firing is the tenth in FBS, which also ties a record.
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- Steve Sarkisian reportedly interested in leaving Texas for NFL openings
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- Paul Finebaum remains sold on one name for Florida opening
- UNC fans think Bill Belichick resigned to join Duke's coaching staff because of a satirical story