The fine folks at USA Today have once again dropped their annual coaching salary database. Today's release just includes head coaching salaries; the assistant and strength versions are presumably forthcoming.
Nick Saban is once again the highest-paid coach in college football, with a salary of $8.307 million and a possible $1.1 million in bonuses. That's down from the $11 million he made a year ago, though we doubt his bank account feels the sting.
A total of 13 coaches surveyed by USA Today will earn at least $5 million this year, rounded out by a group of four coaches that includes Lovie Smith of Illinois.
Fifteen highest-paid FBS head coaches
1. Nick Saban, Alabama -- $8.307 million
2. Urban Meyer, Ohio State -- $7.6 million
3. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan -- $7.504 million
4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M -- $7.5 million
5. Gus Malzahn, Auburn -- $6.705 million
6. Kirby Smart, Georgia -- $6.603 million
7. Dabo Swinney, Clemson -- $6.543 million
8. Dan Mullen, Florida -- $6.070 million
9. Tom Herman, Texas -- $5.5 million
10. Scott Frost, Nebraska -- $5 million
10. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State -- $5 million
10. Willie Taggart, Florida State -- $5 million
10. Love Smith, Illinois -- $5 million
14. Gary Patterson, TCU -- $4.840 million
15. James Franklin, Penn State -- $4.8 million
Among the 123 coaches surveyed -- five of the coaches excluded were at private schools, plus Army and Air Force -- the top 47 were all at Power 5 institutions. Next let's look at the highest-paid Group of 5 coaches.
Ten highest-paid Group of 5 head coaches
1. Mike Norvell, Memphis -- $2.6 million
2. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy -- $2.163 million
3. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati -- $2 million
4. Mike Bobo, Colorado State -- $1.8 million
5. Major Applewhite, Houston -- $1.75 million
6. Josh Heupel, UCF -- $1.7 million
7. Bryan Harsin, Boise State -- $1.65 million
8. Willie Fritz, Tulane -- $1.629 million
9. Jeff Tedford, Fresno State -- $1.55 million
10. Philip Montgomery, Tulsa -- $1.518 million
Let's go ahead and check out the three highest-paid coaches from each of the 10 FBS conferences:
AAC
1. Mike Norvell, Memphis -- $2.6 million
2. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy -- $2.163 million
3. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati -- $2 million
ACC
1. Dabo Swinney, Clemson -- $6.543 million
2. Willie Taggart, Florida State -- $5 million
3. Mark Richt, Miami -- $4.058 million
Big 12
1. Tom Herman, Texas -- $5.5 million
2. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State -- $5 million
3. Gary Patterson, TCU -- $4.84 million
Big Ten
1. Urban Meyer, Ohio State -- $7.6 million
2. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan -- $7.504 million
3. Scott Frost, Nebraska -- $5 million
3. Lovie Smith, Illinois -- $5 million
Conference USA
1. Seth Littrell, North Texas -- $1.425 million
2. Frank Wilson, UTSA -- $1.1 million
3. Lane Kiffin, Florida Atlantic -- $1 million
MAC
1. Jason Candle, Toledo -- $1.125 million
2. Tim Lester, Western Michigan -- $800,000
3. John Bonamego, Central Michigan -- $655,000
Mountain West
1. Mike Bobo, Colorado State -- $1.8 million
2. Bryan Harsin, Boise State -- $1.65 million
3. Jeff Tedford, Fresno State -- $1.55 million
Pac-12
1. Chris Petersen, Washington -- $4.377 million
2. David Shaw, Stanford -- $4.311 million
3. Kyle Whittingham, Utah -- $3.787 million
SEC
1. Nick Saban, Alabama -- $8.307 million
2. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M -- $7.5 million
3. Gus Malzahn, Auburn -- $6.705 million
Sun Belt
1. Billy Napier, Louisiana-Lafayette -- $850,000
2. Blake Anderson, Arkansas State -- $825,000
3. Neal Brown, Troy -- $810,000
And, finally, USA Today added a new but crucial column to its database -- buyouts! Here are the 10 most expensive coaches to fire, as of Dec. 1 of this year.
Ten most expensive coaches to fire
1. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M -- $68.125 million
2. Urban Meyer, Ohio State -- $38.058 million
3. Dabo Swinney, Clemson -- $35 million
4. Nick Saban, Alabama -- $33.6 million
5. Gus Malzahn, Auburn -- $32.143 million
6. Kirby Smart, Georgia -- $27.917 million
7. Chris Petersen, Washington -- $26.354 million
8. Scott Frost, Nebraska -- $25.416 million
9. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa -- $22.396 million
10. Willie Taggart, Florida State -- $21.958 million
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.