Overview

• USA TODAY Sports released its 2025 head coach compensation database, highlighting a group labeled as overpaid based on recent results that includes Billy Napier, Lincoln Riley, Bill Belichick, Luke Fickell and Hugh Freeze.
• Florida’s Billy Napier is listed at $7.47 million in 2025 total pay with a buyout of about $20.43 million as of Dec. 1, and he is 21-22 overall at UF.
• USC’s Lincoln Riley received $11.5 million in 2023 per federal tax filings, and his Trojans are 11-7 since joining the Big Ten.
• North Carolina’s Bill Belichick is among nine coaches making at least $10 million in total compensation, and UNC opened 2-3.
• Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell earns $7.8 million with a $27.5 million buyout after seasons of 7-6, 5-7 and a 2-3 start, while Auburn’s Hugh Freeze makes $6.7 million with a $15.4 million buyout and risks a third straight losing season if the offense stalls.