Source: BroBible
Summary
College football teams spent approximately $270 million on buyouts for 15 fired coaches in the 2025 season. The actual amount paid will be lower due to contract offsets and settlements. The largest buyouts included LSU’s $54 million for Brian Kelly, Kentucky’s $37 million for Mark Stoops, and Michigan State’s $33 million for Jonathan Smith.
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The habit gets a new name.
Firing coaches has become a lucrative business in college football, with schools paying massive sums to terminate contracts. The trend is expected to continue, with the 2026 season likely to see more high-profile coaches under pressure and contracts with large guarantees.
Losing games has never been more profitable, with schools paying for coaches to disappear rather than perform.
The incentives are clear: playoff access is worth enormous money and attention, and athletic departments know one bad season can crush ticket sales, donations, and recruiting momentum.
Getting rid of people is now its own spending category in college football.
College football has officially reached the point where firing a coach is more expensive than hiring one.
