It's market rate for the kind of coaches we're looking for. Jimbo's problem wasn't the annual salary, 7th highest paid coach it was the guarantee. Now, it can certainly be said that the results certainly didn't warrant that level of salary, but that's hindsight.
| 1 | Nick Saban | Alabama | $11,407,000* | SEC | $11,107,000 | $1,100,000 | $300,000 | $44,800,000 |
| 2 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $10,884,775* | ACC | $10,758,575 | $1,375,000 | $500,000 | $64,000,000 |
| 3 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $10,705,600 | SEC | $10,505,600 | $1,525,000 | $1,350,000 | $92,625,000 |
| 4 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $10,271,250* | Big Ten | $10,196,250 | $800,000 | $250,000 | $46,222,292 |
| 5 | Mel Tucker | Michigan State | $10,015,350* | Big Ten | $10,015,350 | $1,550,000 | $0 | — |
| 6 | Brian Kelly | Louisiana State | $9,975,000* | SEC | $9,975,000 | $1,325,000 | $575,000 | $70,018,333 |
| 7 | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $9,150,000 | SEC | $9,150,000 | $1,500,000 | $0 | $77,562,500 |
| 8 | Mark Stoops | Kentucky | $9,013,600 | SEC | $9,000,000 | $3,050,000 | $150,000 | $51,187,500 |
| 9 | Josh Heupel | Tennessee | $9,000,000 | SEC | $9,000,000 | $1,700,000 | $400,000 | $46,500,000 |
| 10 | Lane Kiffin | Mississippi | $9,000,000* | SEC | $9,000,000 | $2,600,000 | $450,000 | — |
| 11 | James Franklin | Penn State | $8,500,000* | Big Ten | $8,500,000 | $1,400,000 | $300,000 | $64,666,667 |
| 12 | Jim Harbaugh | Michigan | $8,254,600* | Big Ten | $8,194,000 | $3,275,000 | $2,200,000 | $27,236,892 |
| 13 | Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7,625,000* | Big Ten | $7,625,000 | $1,450,000 | — | $39,680,000 |
| 14 | Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | $7,625,000* | Big 12 | $7,625,000 | $900,000 | $62,500 | $24,976,563 |
| 15 | Mike Norvell | Florida State | $7,300,000* | ACC | $7,300,000 | $1,400,000 | $225,000 | $42,209,583 |
| 16 | Billy Napier | Florida | $7,270,000* | SEC | $6,920,000 | $1,600,000 | $200,000 | $32,384,716 |
| 17 | Brent Venables | Oklahoma | $7,100,000 | Big 12 | $7,100,000 | $985,000 | $0 | $30,583,333 |
| 18 | Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7,000,000* | Big Ten | $7,000,000 | $2,500,000 | $200,000 | $37,000,000 |
| 19 | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $6,624,999* | Pac-12 | $6,624,999 | $1,875,000 | $200,000 | $44,333,333 |
