In college football, frustration doesn’t always lead to a firing. Sometimes it leads straight into a buyout number so big it changes the math.
That’s the reality for a handful of head coaches whose contracts could make a dismissal painfully expensive. Fans may be ready to move on, but these deals can turn a hot seat into a financial trap.
Dabo Swinney is one of the clearest examples. As of last December, USAToday reported his buyout at $60 million.
Clemson is 11-8 over the last season and a half, and the program looks a long way from the dominance it enjoyed in the late 2010s. Still, the cost of paying Swinney and then hiring another expensive coach leaves Clemson in a bind.
The Tigers may want a change, but they may not have much choice until the money forces the issue.
Texas has already provided a reminder of how quickly the temperature can shift. The Longhorns’ comeback win over Ole Miss cooled the fire around Steve Sarkisian, at least for now.
Even so, Texas has losses to Oklahoma and Florida, and one more bad game could knock the Horns out of the College Football Playoff picture. With the program now facing two decades without a title, Sarkisian isn’t exactly beloved.
But a buyout reported at just over $60 million makes a change far from simple.
Colorado’s situation has gone the other direction, and not in a good way. The Coach Prime era is not wearing well.
Since the Travis Hunter/Shedeur Sanders team, Deion Sanders is 5-14, and Colorado football appears to be going nowhere. Late last year, his buyout was reported at over $33 million.
For a program without the kind of revenue boost that comes with Big Ten or SEC money, that’s a massive hurdle.
Mike Norvell’s grip on the job has been shaky too. After a 2023 season when Florida State just missed the four-team playoff, his team has fallen apart.
The Seminoles are 10-21 since then, and the program has had to watch Miami become nationally competitive while Florida has emerged as a rising team to watch. Norvell is still in place, and as of late 2025, his buyout was reportedly around $58 million.
Nebraska’s Matt Rhule has cooled things a bit with the Huskers sitting at 5-2, but the contract still looms. Rhule is 24-21 at Nebraska, and it isn’t hard to picture the administration deciding to go another direction. The obstacle is the same one facing so many schools: a buyout reported at just under $50 million late last year.
In Other News...
Dabo Swinney Just Put A Clemson Starter On Notice
Clemsons offense has been searching for more consistency, and Dabo Swinney made it clear this week that the conversation starts with accountability. Sophomore running back Gideon Davidson has still led the Tigers in rushing yards and touchdowns, but Swinney pointed to missed assignments and costly decisions as part of what has slowed the unit down, especially in the recent loss to Virginia Tech.
The concerns are bigger than just ball production, too. Davidson has seen his playing time affected after two sacks allowed and a couple of poor reads on key snaps, and with competition building in the backfield, his hold on the starting job is suddenly something to watch. Swinney still believes Davidson is committed and has the ability to bounce back, but the message was clear: the margin for error is getting smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson's QB Decision Looks Different After Dabo's Latest Explanation
Clemsons quarterback plan took a turn because of circumstances as much as performance, with Dabo Swinney explaining that Christopher Vizzinas arm injury changed the shape of the competition. Vizzina was limited in practice and wasnt fully available for games, which forced the staff to adjust its evaluation and lean into a different option when it came time to settle on a starter.
Swinney said Vizzina is now closer to full health, but Tait Reynolds remains the guy for the moment as Clemson moves forward. The door is not shut on the battle entirely, either, since the coaching staff could keep revisiting the position if the offense continues to sputter. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Commit Jamarin Simmons Just Reached Another Big Recruiting Milestone
Jamarin Simmons is set for another notable stop on the recruiting trail, with the Navy All-American Bowl Road to the Dome tour scheduled to come through Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee on Oct. 30, 2026. The Clemson commit will be honored as a 2027 Navy All-American during a school-wide pep rally, adding another layer to what has already become a major senior-year recognition for one of the Tigers prized pledges.
Simmons is slated to take part in the annual East vs. West matchup at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Jan. 9, 2027, joining a group of 100 All-Americans being celebrated through live and virtual jersey presentations. For Clemson, it is another reminder of the caliber of talent still coming into the program, and another chance for the fan base to track a commitment whose profile keeps rising on a national stage. [Read more 🡒]