The highest paid coaches in college football

Meyer earned a contract extension following the 2017 season, making him the highest paid college football coach this season. Since taking over at Ohio State in 2012, Meyer is 73-8 with one National Championship.

The Aggies attracted Fisher from Florida State after last season with a 10-year, $75 million contract. Fisher won the National Championship with Florida State in 2013, and A&M fans hope he can equal that success with his second head coaching job.

Harbaugh departed from the San Francisco 49ers after the 2014 season, signing a mammoth deal with his alma mater. Over his first three seasons, Harbaugh is 28-11. His salary is just behind Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer in 2018.

After getting a $4 million signing bonus last year, Saban's salary drops to $7.125 million this year. Saban is arguably the greatest college football coach ever, winning five National Championships at Alabama since taking the job in 2007. He signed a $65 million contract extension prior to the 2017 season and should continue to get extensions and raises if the success continues.

Smart was Alabama's defensive coordinator until leaving for Georgia in 2016. Two years later, his team has already appeared in the College Football Championship Game. He was rewarded with a contract extension earlier this year worth seven years, $49 million.

Malzahn has brought the Tigers unprecedented success in his five seasons as head coach, including a BCS Championship appearance in his first season. He was given a seven-year, $49 million contract extension earlier this year.

Kelly had mixed results with two chances in the NFL, culminating with a nightmarish 2-14 season as head coach of the 49ers in 2016. The former Oregon head coach is back in the college game after agreeing to a four-year, $23.3 million contract with the Bruins this year. He will make $6.5 million in his first season, getting paid by both the 49ers and UCLA.

Swinney has become one of the hottest commodities in college football with his recent success at Clemson, and he was rewarded with an eight-year, $54 million contract prior to the 2017 season. He's set to make $6.2 million this season after advancing to his third consecutive College Football Playoff. The Tigers have seven straight seasons of double-digit wins.

Mullen was making a pretty penny at Mississippi State, so it took a high price for him to move down to Florida. The Gators attracted him after last season with a six-year, $36 million contract after Mullen went 69-46 over nine seasons with the Bulldogs.

Shaw has continued to build on the momentum started by former Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, going 73-22 in seven seasons with the Cardinal. Stanford is paying him a hefty salary with annual rumors of NFL team interest.

After Charlie Strong failed at Texas, the Longhorns brought Herman from Houston on a five-year, $29 million contract. The offensive guru led Texas to a 7-6 record and Texas Bowl win in his first season.

Patterson is one of the longest-tenured coaches in college football, going on his 19th season at TCU. The Horned Frogs have shown some inconsistency in recent years, but Patterson is coming off an 11-3 season and is 160-57 for his career with the school, including six top 10 finishes.

With the help of oil magnate T. Boone Pickens, the Cowboys have deep pockets in their athletic department. Gundy has consistently seen his salary rise in 13 seasons at Oklahoma State, with six 10-plus win seasons and a career 114-53 record.

Taggart left Oregon after only one year, taking his fourth head coaching job since 2012. The Florida native signed a six-year, $30 million contract to replace the departed Jimbo Fisher.

Frost opted to leave UCF for his alma mater after leading the team to an undefeated record and Peach Bowl win. He takes over a struggling Huskers program and is set to be paid $35 million over the next seven seasons.

Riley was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Sooners at age 33 after Bob Stoops surprisingly retired. He led the Sooners to a 12-2 record and College Football Playoff berth in his first season and signed a five-year, $25 million extension in June.

Following Bill O'Brien, Franklin has helped rebuild the Nittany Lions. The former Vanderbilt head coach has led the program to consecutive top 10 finishes and agreed to a six-year, $34.7 million contract last year that will give him annual raises through the life of the contract.

Ferentz is going into his 20th season at Iowa with a 143-97 record at the school. He's signed through the 2025 season after agreeing to a new contract two years ago.

The Spartans have made nine bowl games and have three top 10 finishes since Dantonio took over as head coach in 2007. He has a 100-45 record with the program, which bounced back from a three-win season in 2016 to go 10-3 last year.

Petersen built Boise State into a mid-major power and surprised many when he took the Huskies job in 2014. Washington has returned to football dominance under his watch with a College Football Playoff berth in 2016 and 10 wins last year.

Two years into his tenure at South Carolina, Muschamp was given a new six-year, $28.2 million contract in January. He's made bowl games in both of his seasons with the Gamecocks, winning nine games last year. Previously, Muschamp spent four seasons as Florida's head coach.

Fuente earned a new contract after only two seasons with the Hokies, going 19-8 with consecutive bowl appearances. Previously, he spent four seasons at Memphis, rebuilding the Tigers football program.

Petrino returned to Louisville in 2014, where he got his first opportunity as a head coach from 2003-2006. It's been one heck of a ride for the former maligned Arkansas Razorbacks head coach, but he's led the Cardinals to four straight bowl appearances and produced 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.

Tennessee struggled to find a head coach before finally hiring Pruitt. He takes over a Vols team that finished 4-8 last season, but the former Alabama defensive coordinator hopes to have similar early success as former Bama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

Stoops has successfully rebuilt the Wildcats football program, now making consecutive bowl games five years into his tenure. His current contract takes him through the 2021 season and was agreed to in 2017.