Jim Harbaugh, Nick Saban and More of the Highest-Paid College Football Coaches This Season
There's nothing like the atmosphere of big-time college football, with 100,000 fans filling the stadium, awash in the colors of the home team. The cheerleaders, the marching band, the cheers, the traditions -- nothing says a fall Saturday like college football.
Read: The Top 5 Richest College Football Programs
Learn: The Richest Athletes in the World
But with big-time football comes big-time expectations from the fans, and no one feels the weight of the pressure more than the head coach. That's why, in part, head coaches at state universities are the highest-paid employees in their state.
That's true for Nick Saban, who sits atop the payroll list in Alabama with an annual salary this year at $9.3 million. If anyone's earned the distinction of being the highest-paid state employee, as well as the highest-paid college football coach in the nation, it's Saban. He has led the Crimson Tide to six national championships since taking the reins of the program in 2007, including the 2020 title. Add in the split national championship he won in 2003 with LSU, he has seven in all — breaking the record of legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Take a Look: Pro Athletes Who Have Lost Millions of Dollars
Saban is followed on USA Today's database of college football coaches' salaries by 24 coaches who make just shy of $4 million per season or more. Each coach on the list works for a team in one of the Power Five conferences: Southeastern Conference, Big 12, Pac-12, Big Ten or Atlantic Coast Conference. They are ranked based on total pay.
Read on to see who — and at how much salary — has joined Saban on the list.
Last updated: Oct. 22, 2021
25. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $4,250,000
Total Pay: $3,983,750
Total Pandemic Reduction: $318,750
School Buyout: $15,328,333
Pay Per Game: $331,979
Pay Per Quarter: $82,995
Pay Per Game Minute: $5,533
Learn: The Richest and ‘Poorest’ Owners in Professional Sports
24. Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh
Conference: ACC
Scheduled School Pay: NA
Total Pay: $4,075,994
Total Pandemic Reduction: NA
School Buyout: NA
Pay Per Game: $339,666
Pay Per Quarter: $84,917
Pay Per Game Minute: $5,661
Moneymakers: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade
23. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Conference: Big 12
Scheduled School Pay: $4,250,000
Total Pay: $4,158,854
Total Pandemic Reduction: $312,500
School Buyout: $6,351,563
Pay Per Game: $346,571
Pay Per Quarter: $86,643
Pay Per Game Minute: $5,776
The Money of College Football: The Highest-Paid Public Employees in Every State
22. Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech
Conference: ACC
Scheduled School Pay: $4,250,000
Total Pay: $4,250,000
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $12,500,000
Pay Per Game: $354,167
Pay Per Quarter: $88,542
Pay Per Game Minute: $5,903
See: The 25 Richest NFL Team Owners
21. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $4,600,000
Total Pay: $4,281,680
Total Pandemic Reduction: $548,320
School Buyout: $18,697,250
Pay Per Game: $356,807
Pay Per Quarter: $89,202
Pay Per Game Minute: $5,947
Check Out: 27 Richest No. 1 NFL Draft Picks
20. Chip Kelly, UCLA
Conference: Pac-12
Scheduled School Pay: $4,300,000
Total Pay: $4,300,000
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $9,000,000
Pay Per Game: $358,333
Pay Per Quarter: $89,583
Pay Per Game Minute: $5,972
Read More: Here’s How Rich Every NFL Team Is
19. Clay Helton, Southern California
Conference: Pac-12
Scheduled School Pay: NA
Total Pay: $4,569,507
Total Pandemic Reduction: NA
School Buyout: NA
Pay Per Game: $380,792
Pay Per Quarter: $95,198
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,347
Note: USC fired Clay Helton on Sept. 13, two games into the 2021 season. A national search is underway for his successor.
18. Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Conference: Pac-12
Scheduled School Pay: $5,000,000
Total Pay: $4,634,178
Total Pandemic Reduction: $365,822
School Buyout: $21,250,000
Pay Per Game: $386,182
Pay Per Quarter: $96,545
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,436
Related: The 5 Best NFL Players When It Comes to Money
17. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $4,900,000
Total Pay: $4,670,750
Total Pandemic Reduction: $393,000
School Buyout: $20,721,250
Pay Per Game: $389,229
Pay Per Quarter: $97,307
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,487
Check Out: How Rich are Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez And 13 More Incredibly Wealthy Retired Athletes?
16. David Shaw, Stanford
Conference: Pac-12
Scheduled School Pay: NA
Total Pay: $4,812,197
Total Pandemic Reduction: NA
School Buyout: NA
Pay Per Game: $401,016
Pay Per Quarter: $100,254
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,684
See the List: How Rich Are Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and 43 More of the Wealthiest Golfers of All Time?
15. Scott Frost, Nebraska
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $5,000,000
Total Pay: $4,833,333
Total Pandemic Reduction: $166,667
School Buyout: $25,375,000
Pay Per Game: $402,778
Pay Per Quarter: $100,694
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,713
Take a Look: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune
14. Mike Leach, Mississippi State
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $5,000,000
Total Pay: $5,000,000
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: NA
Pay Per Game: $416,667
Pay Per Quarter: $104,167
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,944
13. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $5,000,000
Total Pay: $5,013,600
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $23,750,000
Pay Per Game: $417,800
Pay Per Quarter: $104,450
Pay Per Game Minute: $6,963
Who’s Richer: These Sports Stars or Their Significant Others?
12. Mel Tucker, Michigan State
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $5,057,000
Total Pay: $5,057,250
Total Pandemic Reduction: $266,000
School Buyout: $23,186,513
Pay Per Game: $421,438
Pay Per Quarter: $105,359
Pay Per Game Minute: $7,024
11. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: NA
Total Pay: $5,218,658
Total Pandemic Reduction: NA
School Buyout: NA
Pay Per Game: $434,888
Pay Per Quarter: $108,722
Pay Per Game Minute: $7,248
Read: The 22 Highest-Grossing Movies Starring Athletes
10. Ryan Day, Ohio State
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $5,748,264
Total Pay: $5,651,694
Total Pandemic Reduction: $236,877
School Buyout: $45,464,910
Pay Per Game: $470,975
Pay Per Quarter: $117,744
Pay Per Game Minute: $7,850
9. Dan Mullen, Florida
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $6,070,000
Total Pay: $6,070,000
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $12,000,000
Pay Per Game: $505,833
Pay Per Quarter: $126,458
Pay Per Game Minute: $8,431
8. Gary Patterson, TCU
Conference: Big 12
Scheduled School Pay: NA
Total Pay: $6,130,937
Total Pandemic Reduction: NA
School Buyout: NA
Pay Per Game: $510,911
Pay Per Quarter: $127,728
Pay Per Game Minute: $8,515
Find Out: Biggest Sports Contracts Ever
7. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
Conference: Big 12
Scheduled School Pay: $6,507,143
Total Pay: $6,202,726
Total Pandemic Reduction: $515,000
School Buyout: $30,974,666
Pay Per Game: $516,894
Pay Per Quarter: $129,223
Pay Per Game Minute: $8,615
6. Kirby Smart, Georgia
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $6,803,600
Total Pay: $6,933,600
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $19,835,834
Pay Per Game: $577,800
Pay Per Quarter: $144,450
Pay Per Game Minute: $9,630
5. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $7,500,000
Total Pay: $7,500,000
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $53,125,000
Pay Per Game: $625,000
Pay Per Quarter: $156,250
Pay Per Game Minute: $10,417
See: LeBron James and More of the Richest Athletes Younger Than 40
4. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Conference: Big Ten
Scheduled School Pay: $8,054,000
Total Pay: $8,036,179
Total Pandemic Reduction: $554,584
School Buyout: $6,367,929
Pay Per Game: $669,682
Pay Per Quarter: $167,420
Pay Per Game Minute: $11,161
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Conference: ACC
Scheduled School Pay: $8,258,575
Total Pay: $8,319,775
Total Pandemic Reduction: $1,250,000
School Buyout: $50,000,000
Pay Per Game: $693,315
Pay Per Quarter: $173,329
Pay Per Game Minute: $11,555
See: How Rich Are These Big-Name NASCAR Drivers?
2. Ed Orgeron, LSU
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $8,687,500
Total Pay: $8,918,500
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $23,850,000
Pay Per Game: $743,208
Pay Per Quarter: $185,802
Pay Per Game Minute: $12,387
Note: LSU and Ed Orgeron agreed on Oct. 17 that 2021 will be his final season as head coach. The school will pay him a $16.9 million buyout.
1. Nick Saban, Alabama
Conference: SEC
Scheduled School Pay: $9,100,000
Total Pay:$9,300,000
Total Pandemic Reduction: $0
School Buyout: $36,800,000
Pay Per Game: $775,000
Pay Per Quarter: $193,750
Pay Per Game Minute: $12,917
More From GOBankingRates
Find Out Who Made GOBankingRates’ Best Credit Cards Lists and Get Helpful Tips
Social Security Benefits Might Get Cut Early — What Does It Mean for You?
Navy Federal cashRewards Review: With Great Benefits Come Great Rewards
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used USA Today's NCAA Football Coaches salary data from the 2020-21 college football season. GOBankingRates found the following factors for the 25 highest-paid coaches who were employed as college football coaches as of the start of the season: (1) college name; (2) conference: (3) coach name; (4) scheduled school pay; (5) total pay; (6) total pandemic reduction; (7) school buyout clause; and (8) pay per game, quarter and minute of the season. All data was collected and up to date as of Sept. 1, 2021.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Jim Harbaugh, Nick Saban and More of the Highest-Paid College Football Coaches This Season
