College football not only draws in millions of fans but also generates millions of dollars, with a large portion of this investment going to high-profile coaches, such as Kirby Smart from Georgia Bulldogs, who tops the list.
The college head coaches of the most renowned universities not only guide their teams in pursuit of national championships, but they also have the ability to shape future professional athletes, such as Arch Manning.
This power translates into big figures. With contracts that include million-dollar performance bonuses, sponsorship deals, and substantial incentives, these coaches have become some of the highest-paid professionals.
Top 30 highest-paid college football head coaches
Each season, coaches’ salaries and bonuses tend to capture public attention, especially when their earnings are compared to those of professional league coaches. Recently, Kirby Smart has been generating significant income.
According to USA Today, the head coach has become the highest-paid in college football, with a salary of $13 million as of November 2024. Thanks to his work with the Georgia Bulldogs, he has led the team to the top of the sport.
Since taking over as head coach in 2016, he has guided them to an impressive record, winning back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and positioning the team as a constant contender. This success boosted his profile and made him a valuable asset to the university.
In 2022, he signed a ten-year contract extension worth over $110 million, which included annual raises to increase his base salary from $10.25 million up to $12.25 million by 2031. This extension was revised again in 2024, giving him an additional raise that places him above other coaches.
In addition to his salary, Smart can earn up to $1.55 million in bonuses, tied to his team’s performance in the new 12-team playoff format, solidifying his position as the highest-paid coach and ensuring his leadership with the Bulldogs, as Fox Sports reported.
| Rank | Head coach | College | Salary |
| 1 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13 million |
| 2 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $11.5 million |
| 3 | Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.6 million |
| 4 | Lincoln Riley | USC | $10 million |
| 5 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $10 million |
| 6 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $10 million |
| 7 | Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $9.9 million |
| 8 | Brian Kelly | LSU | $9 million |
| 9 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $9 million |
| 10 | Lane Kiffin | Ole Miss | $9 million |
| 11 | Eliah Drinkwitz | Missouri | $9 million |
| 12 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9 million |
| 13 | James Franklin | Penn State | $8.5 million |
| 14 | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $8.2 million |
| 15 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $8.1 million |
| 16 | Mario Cristobal | Miami (FL) | $7.7 million |
| 17 | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $7.7 million |
| 18 | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.7 million |
| 19 | Jedd Fisch | Washington | $7.7 million |
| 20 | Lance Leipold | Kansas | $7.5 million |
| 21 | Billy Napier | Florida | $7.3 million |
| 22 | Jonathan Smith | Michigan State | $7.2 million |
| 23 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7 million |
| 24 | Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $7 million |
| 25 | Hugh Freeze | Auburn | $6.7 million |
| 26 | P.J. Fleck | Minnesota | $6.7 million |
| 27 | Pat Narduzzi | Pittsburgh | $6.6 million |
| 28 | Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame | $6.6 million |
| 29 | Bret Bielema | Illinois | $6.6 million |
| 30 | Kyle Whittingham | Utah | $6.5 million |