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 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.
- •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.
- 7:00 AMYahoo Sports — College football's 30 highest-paid coaches in 2026, from Lane Kiffin to Deion Sanders
"Players aren't the only ones making millions — these coaches are being paid handsomely for the 2026 season.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Aug 27, 2026, 8:03 AMOur final SEC football predictions (who's making the playoff?)
NCAAF•Aug 27, 2026, 6:19 AM‘ESPN Has a Major Problem’ — CFB World Reacts As ‘Friction With Pat McAfee’ Causes ‘College GameDay’ Producer Change
NCAAF•Aug 27, 2026, 5:45 AM‘Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris Better Get Those LinkedIn Accounts Set Up ASAP’ — CFB World Trolls Kiffin, LSU Over SEC’s NFL Players Return Ban
NCAAF•Aug 27, 2026, 5:25 AMWashington Huskies Announce Football Team Captains
NCAAF•Aug 27, 2026, 5:00 AMWhere to watch Cowboys stadium volleyball: Schedule, times, channels, streaming for Spikes Under the Lights at AT&T
NCAAF•Aug 27, 2026, 4:34 AM‘Ya’ll Got Money Now’ — Texas Legend Vince Young Reveals Sage Advice He Gave Arch Manning This Offseason