The combination of an expanded College Football Playoff and breakthrough success by several teams that didn’t make the CFP resulted in another banner season of bonus payouts for college football head coaches at Bowl Subdivision public schools.
They totaled a little more than $16.8 million for on-field achievements, with four coaches claiming at least $1 million, according to tracking by USA TODAY Sports based on contracts acquired through open-records requests.
Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham led the way with just over $2.6 million, including an additional $39,500 he will receive for the Sun Devils moving into the top 10 of Tuesday’s final US LBM Football Coaches Poll and Associated Press media poll (they finished No. 7 in both).
Ohio State’s Ryan Day reached seven figures with the Buckeyes’ run to the CFP national championship, which culminated with a victory over Notre Dame on Monday night that was worth $500,000 alone and gave him $1 million for the season. That amount put him at No. 4 on the bonus list, behind Indiana’s Curt Cignetti ($1.5 million) and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell ($1.35 million).
The overall total includes only a portion of the amount likely claimed by Penn State coach James Franklin. His team advanced to the CFP semifinals after the university announced in late November that his bonus structure had been revised to address a 12-team CFP, but it made no details available and state laws do not require such disclosure.
Last season, FBS public-school head coaches picked up just over $15.5 million, which had been the greatest total since USA TODAY Sports began tracking these amounts in 2019. During those years, no more than two coaches had reached at least $1 million for on-field achievements in the same season.
Dillingham’s total for this season is the second-largest single-season total for a public-school coach. The Sun Devils went 11-3, won the Big 12 Conference title and lost a CFP quarterfinal to Texas in double overtime. Dillingham has said that $200,000 of his bonuses will be given to program staff members.
Jim Harbaugh, then with Michigan, picked up $3 million last season when the Wolverines won the CFP championship. Dillingham also is set for $100,000 based on Arizona State football’s recently published NCAA Graduation Success Rate and could get more this spring based on other team academic metrics.
Dillingham and the university have agreed to a new contract that will increase his pay for the 2025 season from the previously scheduled $4.05 million to just over $6.4 million, give him a $1 million signing bonus and offer the possibility of remaining on a five-year, rolling contract with varying increases if the team wins at least six regular-season games.
Indiana’s Cignetti led the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record in his first year at the school after IU went 3-9 in 2023. And he may end up as the biggest overall winner. His contract had included an automatic one-year extension for the team making a bowl appearance. But after the Hoosiers reached that goal, he and IU agreed on a new contract that is longer, more lucrative and included a provision under which the school’s buyout for firing Cignetti without cause would increase from 85% of the amount left on the contract to 100% of the amount remaining if the Hoosiers made the CFP field — which they did.
Cignetti started at IU with a six-year deal set to be worth at least $27 million, with $20 million initially guaranteed. He has now begun an eight-year agreement set to be worth at least $72 million, with at least $64 million initially guaranteed.
In addition to Cignetti, eight coaches who will be staying with their schools reached goals this season that are set to result in automatic contract extensions and/or raises scheduled to be worth a combined total of at least $37.45 million.
Iowa State’s Campbell reached his $1.35 million in bonuses without the Cyclones playing in the CFP. They did, however, set a school record for wins in a season with 11, and they tied for the Big 12 regular-season title. The school has announced that parties have reached agreement on a new contract that will extend their present deal by four years, but financial terms have not been announced.
A full, school-by-school list of on-field incentives achieved follows. It is alphabetical, by school and shows amounts coaches achieved prior to leaving for other positions or being fired. In either of those cases, the amounts still may be owed to the coach. The list does not reflect amounts that head coaches have said they will be sharing with staff members.
It also does not include bonuses and/or pay increases for assistant coaches, staff and athletics directors that also may be resulting from these achievements. And those totals could be significant. For example, with Ohio State winning the CFP title, its 10 primary assistant coaches and head strength coach are set for a combined total of $4.3 million in bonuses. Buckeyes athletics director Ross Bjork is due $50,000 for the team reaching the CFP final.
In addition, the list does not include coaches’ bonuses for team academic achievements.
Appalachian State: Shawn Clark
►$20,000: Competitive scheduling – play guarantee game at home stadium of Power Five opponent (Clemson)
Arizona State: Kenny Dillingham
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-College Football Playoff bowl game
►$200,000: Ninth regular-season win
►$300,000: 10th regular-season win
►$395,000: Play in Big 12 Conference title game
►$50,000: Big 12 coach of the year
►$395,000: Win Big 12 title
►$39,500: Team No. 25 through No. 11 in final CFP rankings (No. 12)
►$1,135,000: Play in CFP quarterfinals
►$39,500: Team No. 10 through No. 6 in final US LBM Football Coaches Poll and Associated Press media poll (No. 7 in both).
Arkansas: Sam Pittman
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$50,000: Play in what contract calls ‘Tier 2’ bowl, which mirrors Southeastern Conference Pool of Six (team playing in Liberty Bowl)
►$250,000 raise that began Jan. 1, 2025: Seventh win, which occurred in bowl game against a Power Five or ranked team (Texas Tech).
Arkansas State: Butch Jones
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Army: Jeff Monken
(Note: If team’s multi-year NCAA Academic Progress Rate is less than 975, Monken’s bonuses would be reduced by various percentages, depending on the APR figure.)
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Seventh regular-season win
►$75,000: Win over Air Force
►$25,000: Eighth regular-season win
►$25,000: Ninth regular-season win
►$50,000: 10th regular-season win
►$50,000: Win American Athletic Conference title
►$50,000: Team in top 25 of final rankings (No. 22 CFP, No. 21 Coaches and AP)
►$50,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
Boise State: Spencer Danielson
►$11,000: Sixth Mountain West Conference win
►$22,000: American Football Coaches Association regional coach of the year
►$11,000: Seventh Mountain West win
►$44,000: Play in Mountain West title game
►$22,000: Mountain West coach of the year
►$66,000: Win Mountain West title
►$110,000: Play in CFP quarterfinals
Bowling Green: Scot Loeffler
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$7,500: Fifth Mid-American Conference win
►$25,000: Sixth MAC win
►$5,000: Bowling Green player named MAC player of the year (Harold Fannin Jr.)
Buffalo: Pete Lembo
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$15,000: Eighth regular-season win
►$35,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
California: Justin Wilcox
►$25,000: Win over Stanford
►$25,000: Sixth regular-season win
►$40,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Clemson: Dabo Swinney
►$75,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game with at least eight wins
►$50,000: Play in Atlantic Coast Conference title game
►$200,000: Win ACC title
►$75,000: Play in CFP first round
Coastal Carolina: Tim Beck
►$150,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Colorado: Deion Sanders
►$150,000: Sixth win
►$150,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$100,000: Seventh regular-season win
►$100,000: Eighth regular-season win
►$100,000: Ninth regular-season win
Colorado State: Jay Norvell
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Fourth Mountain West win
►$50,000: Seventh win
►$25,000: Fifth Mountain West win
►$50,000: Eighth win
►$50,000: Sixth Mountain West win
Connecticut: Jim Mora
►$25,000: Sixth regular-season win
►$50,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$10,000: Seventh regular-season win
►$10,000: Eighth regular-season win
East Carolina: Blake Harrell
(Note: Harrell had been serving as interim head coach, and his bonus total is based on the terms of his interim head-coaching agreement and the memorandum of understanding between him and East Carolina after the school removed Harrell’s interim tag and named him head coach.)
►$45,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$50,000: Win bowl game following 2024 season
Florida: Billy Napier
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Fresno State interim coach: Tim Skipper
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Georgia: Kirby Smart
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Eighth win, sets up team for Southeastern Conference Pool of Six bowl
►$100,000: Play in SEC title game
►$200,000: Win SEC title
►$425,000: Play in CFP quarterfinals
Georgia Southern: Clay Helton
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$30,000: Eighth regular-season win
Georgia State: Dell McGee
►$10,000: Win over Power Four team (Vanderbilt)
Georgia Tech: Brent Key
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Illinois: Bret Bielema
►One-year contract extension; $25,000 bonus this season: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game (Agreement set to run through Jan. 31, 2030. Scheduled total pay for that season would be $7.25 million, all guaranteed.)
►$150,000 increase in scheduled total and guaranteed pay for season added under automatic contract extension, making it worth $7.4 million: Seventh win
►$50,000: Eighth regular-season win
►$50,000: Ninth regular-season win
►$75,000: Ninth win, sets up team for what contract terms ‘Tier 1’ bowl, which includes ReliaQuest and Citrus (team playing in Citrus)
Indiana: Curt Cignetti
►One-year contract extension; $250,000 raise, beginning next season; $200,000 bonus this season: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game (Agreement set to run through Nov. 30, 2030. Scheduled total pay for that season would be $5.1 million, with $3.3 million guaranteed.)
Note: After Cignetti reached this goal, he and school agreed on new contract that is longer and more lucrative.
►$100,000: Fifth Big Ten Conference win
►$50,000: Sixth Big Ten win
►$500,000: Finish among top two in final Big Ten regular-season standings
►$50,000: Big Ten coach of the year
►$500,000 bonus this year and increase in the value of buyout if Cignetti is fired without cause to 100% of remaining value of new contract from 85%. (As of Dec. 10, 2024, that difference is nearly $9.5 million.): Play in CFP first round
►$100,000: National coach of the year, by Associated Press and other organizations
Iowa: Kirk Ferentz
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Iowa State: Matt Campbell
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$250,000: Seventh regular-season win
►$250,000: Eighth regular-season win
►$250,000: Ninth regular-season win
►$250,000: 10th regular-season win
►$250,000: Play in Big 12 Conference title game with team tied for first place in regular-season conference standings
►$50,000: Win bowl game
Jacksonville State: Rich Rodriguez
►$10,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$10,000: Seventh regular-season win
►$10,000: Eighth regular-season win
►$20,000: Win Conference USA title
James Madison: Bob Chesney
►$15,000: Win over Power Four team (North Carolina)
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Seventh win over FBS opponents
►$25,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
Kansas State: Chris Klieman
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►One-year contract extension: Eighth regular-season win (Contract now set to run through Dec. 31, 2032. Extension now scheduled to pay $6.5 million with at least $3.75 million guaranteed.)
Louisville: Jeff Brohm
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
LSU: Brian Kelly
►$500,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Louisiana-Lafayette: Michael Desormeaux
►$25,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game with at least seven wins
►One-year contract extension: 10th win (Contract now set to run through Dec. 31, 2027. Extension now scheduled to pay $772,800 with $443,680 million guaranteed.)
►$25,000: 10th regular-season win
►$25,000: Win Sun Belt Conference division title
►$20,000: Sun Belt coach of the year
Marshall: Charles Huff
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$30,000: Seventh win
►$50,000: Win Sun Belt title
Memphis: Ryan Silverfield
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$75,000: Eighth win
►One-year contract extension: Ninth regular-season win (Contract now set to run through Dec. 31, 2029. Extension now scheduled to pay $2.8 million with $1.68 million guaranteed.)
►$25,000: Ninth win
►$25,000: 10th win
►$25,000: Team No. 25 through No. 11 in final rankings (No. 25 CFP, No. 23 Coaches, No. 24 AP)
►$25,000: 11th win
►$50,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
Miami (Ohio): Chuck Martin
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Play in MAC title game
►$25,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
Minnesota: P.J. Fleck
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$50,000: Fifth Big Ten win
►$50,000: Win non-CFP bowl game over Power Four team (Virginia Tech)
Mississippi: Lane Kiffin
►$100,000: Regular-season win over non-conference Power Five team (Wake Forest)
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►One-year contract extension: Seventh win (Contract with Ole Miss Athletics Foundation now set to run through Dec. 31, 2030; contract with university through Dec. 31, 2028. Extension now scheduled to pay $9,000,000, with $7.2 million guaranteed.)
►$50,000: Eighth win, sets up team for SEC Pool of Six bowl (team playing Gator Bowl)
►$150,000: Fifth SEC win
Missouri: Eliah Drinkwitz
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Team in top 25 of final rankings (No. 19 CFP, No. 20 Coaches, No. 22 AP)
►$50,000: Play in SEC Group of Six bowl game (team playing in Music City Bowl)
Nebraska: Matt Rhule
►$150,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Nevada-Las Vegas: Barry Odom
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Play in Mountain West title game
►$25,000: Team in top of final rankings (No. 24 CFP, No. 24 Coaches, No. 23 AP)
North Carolina: Mack Brown
►$75,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
North Carolina State: Dave Doeren
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
North Texas: Eric Morris
►$35,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Northern Illinois: Thomas Hammock
►$15,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►One-year contract extension: Win bowl game (Contract now set to run through June 30, 2030. Extension now scheduled to pay $786,225 with $330,500 guaranteed.)
►$20,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
Ohio: Tim Albin
►One-year contract extension and $5,000 bonus: Eighth regular-season win (Contract now set to run through Dec. 31, 2028. Extension now scheduled to pay $710,000 with $305,000 guaranteed.)
►$5,000: Ninth regular-season win
►$30,753: Play in MAC title game
►$10,000: MAC coach of the year
►$30,753: Win MAC title
Ohio State: Ryan Day
►$100,000: Play in CFP first round
►$150,000: Play in CFP quarterfinal
►$100,000: Play in CFP semifinal
►$150,000: Play in CFP championship game
Oregon: Dan Lanning
►One-year contract extension: 10th regular-season win (Contract now set to run through Jan. 31, 2031. Extension now scheduled to pay $9,400,000, all guaranteed.)
►$200,000: 11th regular-season win
►$100,000: Play in Big Ten championship game
►$200,000: 12th regular-season win
►$150,000: Win Big Ten title
►$200,000: Play in CFP quarterfinals
Penn State: James Franklin
(Note: Penn State announced on Nov. 29 that Franklin’s bonus package has been revised to address a 12-team CFP. The university made no details available. The bonuses listed here are from a term sheet the university previously had released rather than a full-form contract.)
►$200,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$200,000: Play in Big Ten title game
Rutgers: Greg Schiano
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Sam Houston State: K.C. Keeler
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
San Jose State: Ken Niumatalolo
►$30,000: Seventh regular-season win
South Alabama: Major Applewhite
►$15,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$20,000: Win bowl game
South Carolina: Shane Beamer
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$50,000: Play in Citrus Bowl
South Florida: Alex Golesh
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$50,000: Win non-CFP bowl game
Tennessee: Josh Heupel
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$100,000: Team No. 10 through No. 6 in final rankings (No. 7 CFP, No. 8 Coaches, No. 9 AP)
►$100,000: Play in CFP first round
Texas: Steve Sarkisian
►$100,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$150,000: Play in SEC title game
►$150,000: Play in CFP first round
►$250,000: Play in CFP quarterfinal
►$250,000: Play in CFP semifinal
Texas-San Antonio: Jeff Traylor
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$25,000: Win bowl game
Texas State: G.J. Kinne
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$50,000: Win bowl game
Texas Tech: Joey McGuire
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$100,000: Eighth regular-season win
Toledo: Jason Candle
►$75,000: Sixth regular-season win
►$20,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
►$60,000: Seventh regular-season win
►$30,000: Win bowl game
Utah: Kyle Whittingham
►$15,000: Team ranked in top 25 at any time during season (AP preseason top 25, No. 12)
Virginia Tech: Brent Pry
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Washington: Jedd Fisch
►$75,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Washington State: Jake Dickert
►$25,000: Eligible for non-CFP bowl game with at least seven wins
West Virginia: Neal Brown
►$50,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
Western Kentucky: Tyson Helton
►$50,000: Play in Conference USA title game
►$50,000: 8th win assures team will finish with winning record
Western Michigan: Lance Taylor
►$25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game