Michigan State didn't go cheap in its pursuit and eventual hiring of Jonathan Smith away from Oregon State.
Per terms of Smith's contact released Tuesday by Michigan State, Smith is set to make a base salary of $6 million plus a $1.25 million supplement in 2024, the first of Smith's seven-year term.
For the duration, Smith's pact guarantees the former Oregon State quarterback more than $50 million - if executed in its current state.
The deal is only guaranteed on Michigan State’s part at 85-percent of full value.
Following his first-year salary, Smith is set to see his annual salary increase by at least $100,000 per season and it culminates with a scheduled $7.85 million salary in the final year of the deal.
Per the deal, first shared by Chris Solari, Smith's buyout for "coach liquidated" reasons would be $7 million at the end of the upcoming 2024 season and reducing by one million, then two million and back to one million per year until the end of the term results in a zero-sum buyout.
Additionally, Smith's secured a salary pool of more than $10 million for his assistant coaching and support staff -- pegged at $10.75 million.
That's approximately $3 million more than what Michigan State had allocated Smith's predecessor, the disgraced and fired Mel Tucker.
For context: State's assistant coaches' salary pool is very close aligned with what Mike Elko has been granted in his new role atop Texas A&M.
The Aggies had spent more than $13 million on their assistant coaches' pool under fired Jimbo Fisher, but they have budgeted approximately $11.5 million for Elko's first staff.