College football, the NCAA says, isn't about money. However, college coaches make a TON of money. The vast majority of these coaches are their university's highest-paid employee, making more than the school's president.
Some coaches are set to move up or down this list next season. Jimbo Fisher's new deal (10 years, $75 million) will make him the third highest-paid coach in the country at Texas A&M, while Chip Kelly will find his way on here next year after signing a five-year, $23.3 million deal with UCLA. With that in mind, here were the 12 highest-paid coaches in college football this season:
12) James Franklin, Penn State - $4.6 million
2017 Record: 10-2
Career Record: 59-32 (seven years, 35-17 in four years at PSU)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 1
Bowl Game Record: 3-3 (1-2 at PSU)
11) Gus Malzahn, Auburn - $4.73 million
2017 Record: 10-2
Career Record: 54-23 (six years, 45-20 in five years at Auburn)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 2 (1 at Auburn)
Bowl Game Record: 1-3
10) Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M - $5 million
2017 Record: 7-5
Career Record: 86-43 (10 years, 51-26 in six years at Texas A&M)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 2 (0 at Texas A&M)
Bowl Game Record: 4-3 (3-2 at Texas A&M)
9) Gary Patterson, TCU - $5.1 million
2017 Record: 10-2
Career Record: 159-58 (18 years, all at TCU)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 6
Bowl Game Record: 9-6
8) Tom Herman, Texas - $5.49 million
2017 Record: 6-6
Career Record: 28-10 (three years, 6-6 in one year at Texas))
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 1
Bowl Game Record: 1-0
7) David Shaw, Stanford - $5.68 million
2017 Record: 9-3
Career Record: 73-20 (seven years, all at Stanford)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 3
Bowl Game Record: 4-2
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6) Jimbo Fisher, Florida State - $5.7 million
2017 Record: 5-6
Career Record: 83-23 (eight years at FSU)
National Championships: 1
Conference Championships: 3
Bowl Game Record: 5-2
5) Rich Rodriguez, Arizona - $6.03 million
2017 Record: 7-5
Career Record: 163-118-2 (43-34 in six years at Arizona)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 7
Bowl Game Record: 5-5
4) Urban Meyer, Ohio State - $6.43 million
2017 Record: 10-2
Career Record: 175-31 (16 years, 71-8 in six years at OSU)
National Championships: 3
Conference Championships: 5 (1 at OSU)
Bowl Game Record: 10-3 (3-2 at OSU)
3) Jim Harbaugh, Michigan - $7 million
2017 Record: 8-4
Career Record: 57-31 (seven years, 28-10 in three years at Michigan)
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 0
Bowl Game Record: 2-2 (1-1 at Michigan)
2) Dabo Swinney, Clemson - $8.53 million
2017 Record: 11-1
Career Record: 100-30 (10 years at Clemson)
National Championships: 1
Conference Championships: 3
Bowl Game Record: 7-4
1) Nick Saban, Alabama - $11.13 million
2017 Record: 11-1
Career Record: 221-62-1 (22 years, 130-20 in 11 years at Alabama)
National Championships: 5 (4 at Alabama)
Conference Championships: 8 (5 at Alabama)
Bowl Game Record: 11-9
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