League: NCAAF Sport: College Sports Country: United States Category: Trades

Kirby Smart tops list of highest-paid college football coaches in 2026

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 27, 2026, 7:00 AM

Last updated Aug 27, 2026

Kirby Smart tops list of highest-paid college football coaches in 2026

Summary

Kirby Smart leads the list of college football's highest-paid coaches for the 2026 season with a salary of $13.3 million. Following him are Curt Cignetti and Lane Kiffin, each earning $13 million. Cignetti, who coached Indiana to a College Football Playoff title, received a salary increase due to his team's recent success. Kiffin's move from Ole Miss to LSU and subsequent contract reflects his reputation for investing in talent. The contracts of these coaches reflect the increasing financial of college football amid NIL deals and transfer portal dynamics.

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Key Details

•Kirby Smart earns $13.3 million as the highest-paid coach.
•Curt Cignetti of Indiana, earning $13 million, recently secured a pay boost.
•Lane Kiffin's move to LSU comes with a $13 million salary.
•Ryan Day and Kalen DeBoer follow, earning $12.6 million and $12.5 million, respectively.
•The growing salaries highlight the evolving financial in college athletics.

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