Could this be the most expensive coaching carousel in college football history? With more than $100 million already committed to fired head coaches — and more probably to come — FBS schools could top $250 million in buyouts this year. So far, nine head coaches — including Penn State’s James Franklin and Florida’s Billy Napier — have been fired. The combined buyout figure of all of them is $114.55 million, according to data from USA Today and Front Office Sports. Other head coaches who may be on the hot seat include North Carolina’s Bill Belichick ($20.83M buyout), Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell ($27.49M), Auburn’s Hugh Freeze ($15.44M), Florida State’s Mike Norvell ($58.67) and Kentucky’s Mark Stoops ($37.69M), among others. If those five head coaches were to be fired, the total buyouts would reach $274.67 million, shattering a record. According to data from the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database, between 2005 and 2024, the highest yearly severance for FBS coaches occurred last year ($188.15M). That data,Read More
2025 could bring historic buyout total for fired college football coaches
