Who Are the Highest Paid College Football Coaches in 2025?

In college football, it is not only the players who make headlines; the coaches are also raking in serious money. A recent USA TODAY Sports analysis shows that 32 Division I football coaches make $7 million or more this year, a staggering amount that emphasizes how important a leader is in this sport.
The leader of this pack is Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who makes a whopping $13,282,580, making him the highest paid coach in college football for 2025.

Kirby Smart Leads the Pack

Kirby Smart’s success at Georgia is not only demonstrated through his on-field success but also in his paycheck. With two championship runs in back-to-back years along with consistent playoff appearances, it’s certainly not shocking that he ranks no. 1. Smart has created a modern dynasty in Georgia – a machine across the fields of consistency, defense, and development that many other programs strive to replicate.
Right behind him is Ryan Day of Ohio State, at $12,575,000. Day continues to keep the Buckeyes amongst the nation’s elite and is one of the most intelligent offensive minds in the game. The third-highest contract belongs to Lincoln Riley of Southern California, at $11,537,560, which can be credited to his offensive brilliance and his ability to develop Heisman contenders. These names set the tone for who are the highest paid college football coaches are in 2025, showing how much success is valued in the NCAA.

The Top 10 Highest Paid College Football Coaches in 2025

These numbers illustrate how much highest paid college football coaches have changed the financial landscape, creating a disconnect between collegiate and professional salary ranges. The battle for talent, leadership, and high-achieving culture has resulted in the highest paid coach in college football being among the most powerful people in American sport.

Beyond the Top 10: Big Names, Big Money

Just beneath the top earners are familiar names like Deion Sanders (Colorado) at $8,975,000 and James Franklin (Penn State) at $8,500,000, illustrating that even newer programs are willing to spend significant money on game-day leaders. Matt Rhule (Nebraska) joins that $8.5 million tier, with Mario Cristobal (Miami) rounding it out as a top-five coach with $8,302,883.