When a college football coach is let go, the first number everyone wants to see isn’t the win-loss record - it’s the buyout. And in the case of Mark Stoops, who was fired by Kentucky after 13 seasons, that number is a massive $38 million.
Stoops’ departure was confirmed Sunday evening, capping off a whirlwind week in the college football coaching carousel. While the headlines were dominated by speculation around Lane Kiffin, Kentucky quietly made its move, parting ways with the longest-tenured coach in program history.
Now, let’s talk about that buyout.
According to reporting from Chris Low, Stoops wasn’t planning to walk away on his own. But once Kentucky approached him about a potential separation, he was open to working out a deal - not to reduce the buyout amount, but to restructure how it would be paid. Rather than demanding the full $38 million within the 60-day window outlined in his contract, Stoops agreed to a more manageable arrangement that allows Kentucky to spread the payments over time.
That’s a significant concession, and one that gives the Wildcats a little breathing room as they figure out what’s next. Still, $38 million is a steep price for a program that’s now back in the market for a new head coach.
And Stoops’ situation is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle this season. The total cost of coach buyouts across college football has now soared past $200 million - an eye-popping figure that underscores just how much money is being poured into the sport, even when it’s going out the door.
For context, Texas A&M still holds the top spot with Jimbo Fisher’s $78.6 million buyout - a staggering number that set the tone for this year’s coaching carousel. LSU’s Brian Kelly is next in line with a $53.8 million buyout. Stoops now joins that elite (and expensive) company, highlighting the financial stakes involved when programs decide it’s time for a change.
For Kentucky, this marks the end of an era. Stoops took over a struggling program and brought it to national relevance, delivering multiple bowl wins and helping reshape the identity of Wildcats football. But after 13 seasons, the school decided it was time to go in a new direction - and that decision came with a hefty price tag.
The coaching carousel is spinning fast this year, and as the money continues to flow, one thing’s clear: in today’s college football landscape, change doesn’t come cheap.