The 2019 college football season is in full swing. A number of the usual suspects are near the top of the race for the College Football Playoff, while others around the country are trying to remain in the mix. That means we have our fair share of coaches and teams who are under and/or overachieving.
One of the best ways to look at the value a college football coach brings is to look around the country at the salaries and to see which program is getting the most bang for their buck.
Luckily for us, USA TODAY Sports put in the work and compiled a database of salaries for coaches around the nation with a number of leading men bringing in some high salaries.
Predictably, the top coaches in college football are among the most successful. Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney leads the way with an impressive $9.3 million mark, while Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban rakes in a cool $8.9 million.
Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M draw even at $7.5 million, while Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart rounds out the top five at $6.9 million.
One of the most surprising names on the list is Purdue’s Jeff Brohm, who entered the top 10 with $6.6 million which is a higher salary than Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma and Florida’s Dan Mullen.
A full look at the 10 highest-paid coaches in college football for the current season can be seen below.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Coaches in College Football in 2019
1. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney: $9.3 million
2. Alabama head coach Nick Saban: $8.9 million
3. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh: $7.5 million
4. Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher: $7.5 million
5. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart: $6.9 million
6. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn: $6.8 million
7. Texas head coach Tom Herman: $6.8 million
8. Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm: $6.6 million
9. Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley: $6.4 million
10. Florida head coach Dan Mullen: $6.1 million