College Football Fires Coaches Like IKEA Sells Meatballs: Expensive and Frequent

KEY POINTS

•Major college football programs have already paid over $145 million in buyouts for fired head coaches and assistants this season.
•LSU fired Brian Kelly last month and owes him about $54 million after he rejected two settlement offers and sued for full payment.
•Penn State negotiated down James Franklin's $49 million buyout to $9 million after he took the Virginia Tech job.
•Coaching firings are expected to increase as the season ends, while LSU courts Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin with a $14 million-per-year, seven-year deal.

In 2025, college football programs have turned firing coaches into an Olympic sport, racking up $145 million in buyouts faster than a celeb racking up canceled endorsements. LSU, with a $54 million severance for Brian Kelly—who said 'no thanks' to two settlement offers and went shopping for lawyers instead—showcases what heartbreak (and bankruptcy) looks like on a grand scale. Meanwhile, Penn State’s millionaire break-up drama cut James Franklin’s payday down to $9 million after a consolation prize job at Virginia Tech. Add Auburn, Oklahoma State, and Florida to the dump list, plus Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin eying a $14 million annual 'salary emotional support package' at LSU. College football’s coaching carousel has become less 'coaching' and more 'How many millions can you lose before kickoff?'