In USA Today's salary rankings, the SEC had 11 programs break the top 25.
In USA Today's latest list of the top-paid head coaches in college football, the Southeastern Conference had five coaches ranked in the top 10, which is more than any other league in the country.
In the 2025 campaign, the league's play-callers were estimated to have racked up a combined $132,290,567. Time will tell if the money spent will translate to success on the gridiron, however. As powerful and dominant as the SEC has been for such a long time, other conferences are giving it their all to compete against the most historically successful league in America. Not only will it require deeper pockets, but it will also necessitate toppling squads that have tenured head coaches, who know exactly what it feels like to be a champion.
The success of the conference's coaches has been well-noted, which is why these numbers immediately stand out on first glance. However, multiple programs may have no choice but to fork over a respective buyout, as Arkansas did when it fired Sam Pittman, for those who have found themselves on the hot seat.
According to USA Today's updated statistics, here are the highest-paid head coaches in the SEC as of the 2025 campaign:
1. Kirby Smart - Georgia Bulldogs
- Total pay: $13,282,580
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $800,000/$1,775,000
- School buyout: $105,107,583
2. Steve Sarkisian - Texas Longhorns
- Total pay: $10,800,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $900,000/$1,850,000
- School buyout: $60,307,500
3. Kalen DeBoer - Alabama Crimson Tide
- Total pay: $10,250,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $100,00/$1,175,000
- School buyout: $60,843,750
4. Brian Kelly - LSU Tigers
- Total pay: $10,175,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $550,000/$1,325,000
- School payout: $53,293,333
5. Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss Rebels
- Total pay: $9,000,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $650,000/$2,600,000
- School payout: $36,600,000
6. Eli Drinkwitz - Missouri Tigers
- Total pay: $9,000,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $225,000/$1,575,000
- School buyout: $28,875,685
7. Josh Heupel - Tennessee Volunteers
- Total pay: $9,000,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $350,000/$1,700,000
- School buyout: $37,500,000
8. Mark Stoops - Kentucky Wildcats
- Total pay: $9,000,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $100,000/$3,550,000
- School payout: $37,687,500
9. Shane Beamer - South Carolina Gamecocks
- Total pay: $8,150,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $150,000/$1,700,000
- School payout: $27,903,958
10. Brent Venables - Oklahoma Sooners
- Total pay: $7,552,750
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $25,000/$1,385,000
- School payout: $36,158,333
11. Billy Napier - Florida Gators
- Total pay: $7,470,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $200,000/$1,600,000
- School payout: $20,428,333
12. Mike Elko - Texas A&M Aggies
- Total pay: $7,000,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $0/$3,800,000
- School payout: $21,875,000
13. Sam Pittman - Arkansas Razorbacks
- Total pay: $6,814,600
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $175,000/$1,450,000
- School buyout: N/A (Fired after 56-13 loss to Notre Dame on Sep. 28)
14. Hugh Freeze - Auburn Tigers
- Total pay: $6,734,500
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $100,000/$3,300,000
- School buyout: $15,437,500
15. Jeff Lebby - Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Total pay: $4,350,000
- Achieved and maximum bonus: $0/$1,900,000
- School payout: $11,006,250
16. Clark Lea - Vanderbilt Commodores
- Total pay: $3,711,137
- Achieved and maximum bonus: N/A
- School buyout: N/A
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Updated SEC head coach salaries, including Texas A&M HC Mike Elko
Category: General Sports
