Auburn’s firing of Hugh Freeze after a 4-5 start to the 2025 season is another example of how the buyout system is draining universities and destabilizing the sport.
The decision to part ways with head coach Hugh Freeze wasn’t shocking. What is
shocking, though, is the $15.8 million buyout the university now owes him. Another
staggering bill in college football’s landscape and the eleventh mid-season firing this year.
Freeze was hired in late 2022 to return Auburn to national prominence but never found his
footing. The Tigers went 6-7 in his first season, 5-7 the next, and stumbled again this fall
before the university finally decided to move on. His overall record of 15-19 with just six
SEC wins fell far short of expectations. Yet, the cost of his departure reveals a much
deeper issue across college athletics.
Costly errors repeat
This is the third straight Auburn coach to leave with a multi-million dollar payout. The school paid Gus Malzahn $21.5 million after firing him in 2020, followed by Bryan Harsin’s $15.3 million buyout in 2022. Now, with Freeze’s $15.8 million added to the total, Auburn has
spent over $54 million in five years on fired coaches.
That number is insane, but Auburn is far from alone. Across the country, universities
are hemorrhaging cash in the name of winning. With lucrative television deals and booster
contributions pouring in, schools have convinced themselves that these buyouts are
manageable. That is until the bills start piling up.
Each one of these payouts represents money that could have gone to athlete support,
scholarships, or academic programs. Instead, universities are paying millions to make bad
hires disappear.
Rewarding contract failures
Freeze’s deal reportedly lacks an offset clause, meaning Auburn owes him every dollar
even if he takes another job. It’s a perfect illustration of how modern coaching contracts
favor coaches over schools with guaranteed money and limited accountability. It also pressures athletic departments to take desperate swings on the next “big name,” continuing the cycle of short-term fixes and long-term financial strain.
The NCAA’s refusal to regulate or even address the issue has made matters worse. With
no spending limits or oversight on coaching contracts, universities have entered a bidding
war that shows no sign of slowing. Wealthy programs throw millions at buyouts without accountability, while smaller schools are pressured to overspend just to remain competitive. The result is widening the gap between the sport’s elite and everyone else.
What began as a system meant to attract elite talent has become a self-inflicted wound, draining university resources and undermining the educational mission these institutions are
supposed to uphold.
Big picture view
Auburn hopes that firing Freeze will spark a new beginning, but the financial damage
lingers. Each buyout adds to a mounting debt that universities are unwilling to confront.
Until the NCAA or university leaders introduce buyout caps, performance-based
contracts, or spending reforms, this pattern will continue unchecked. It's similar to the structure LSU is offering for their next coaching hire.
College football’s obsession with instant results has created a culture where failure costs
millions, stability is rare, and accountability is optional.
Additional college football updates:
- Deion Sanders's contract terms and buyout information as the Colorado Buffaloes' head coach.
- LSU Tigers coach Brian Kelly's contract and buyout information.
- Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter suffers major blow during rookie season
- Will Lane Kiffin depart Ole Miss? Here's what to know about the most recent speculation.
- College football's cherished mascot has been diagnosed with cancer.