Lost in all the hubbub of teams vying for conference titles and jockeying for position when it comes to the College Football Playoff is the fact that USA TODAY updated its head coaching salary database which gets released annually.
The updated numbers not only show what head football coaches at public universities make as a part of their total compensation (hence no Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern), but it also details what the contract buyouts are for each. And while we hate to wish ill will on anyone’s job status, those figures will come into play as performance either on or off the field come under the microscope.
I mean, we already have a very troubling and inexcusable instance of off-the-field conduct by players at Michigan State. We also have teams like Indiana and Rutgers not doing well on the field of play.
We’ve already seen Wisconsin let go of head coach Paul Chryst, and Nebraska part ways with Scott Frost, and it wouldn’t be utterly shocking to see another asked to leave in the high-stakes game of today’s college football.
So … if something were to happen that would warrant a departure of ways (with cause notwithstanding), here is each Big Ten football head coach’s contract buyout as it stands today ranked from the least to most ludicrous.
Figures are as of 12/1/2022.
11
Bret Bielema, Illinois
Total Contract Buyout
$10,125,000
10
Mike Locksley, Maryland
Total Contract Buyout
$11,266,667
9
Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Total Contract Buyout
$16,143,750
8
P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
Total Contract Buyout
$19,770,833
7
Jeff Brohm, Purdue
Total Contract Buyout
$24,375,000
6
Tom Allen, Indiana
Total Contract Buyout
$24,900,000
5
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Total Contract Buyout
$35,410,651
4
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Total Contract Buyout
$43,000,000
3
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Total Contract Buyout
$52,416,666
2
James Franklin, Penn State
Total Contract Buyout
$72,666,667
1
Mel Tucker, Michigan State
Total Contract Buyout
$86,687,500
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