You knew it was coming. When Jim Harbaugh's contract was released in January we even threw in a caveat, saying the new Michigan coach was the Big Ten's second-highest paid coach... until Urban Meyer got his extension.
On Monday, Urban got that extension.
As released by Ohio State, the reigning national champion is now firmly in college football's growing $5 million club, surging from the $4.9 million he would have made under his previous contract to $5.8 million in 2015. The new deal runs until 2021 and will average $6.5 million through the life of the contract. He now trails only Nick Saban in salary and vaults ahead of fellow $5 million club members Mark Dantonio, Bob Stoops, Jimbo Fisher, Kevin Sumlin, Charlie Strong and Harbaugh.
"I am honored to serve as football coach at The Ohio State University and to represent this great university," Meyer said in a statement. "It is a privilege to coach and mentor the young men in this program, and I want to thank President Drake and Mr. Smith for their support and their trust in me."
The new deal also gives Meyer the type of job security his peers don't even allow themselves to fantasize about. As USA Today's Steve Berkowitz tweets, Meyer would be owed $34 million if fired without cause before Jan. 31, 2016 and $15.5 million if fired without cause through Jan. 31, 2019.
Meyer, though, is being paid to never put Ohio State in that position.