Fired coaches who are still on the payroll
There's no question that Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas are seven of college football's heavyweights.
Collectively, they've combined to win 26 national championships, and 21 of their players have hoisted the Heisman Trophy.
Together, they're also known for a more dubious number: $51.35 million.
That's how much money the aforementioned FBS programs have paid their former coaches to buy out the remainder of their contracts, and each of them will carry dead money into the coming season.
Buyout information for former USC coach Lane Kiffin is unknown because USC is a private school and is not required to make contract information public. According to the Los Angeles Times, Kiffin earned about $3.4 million in total compensation in fiscal 2013-14 before his departure from USC, based off tax returns.
Here's a look at some of the more notable contract buyouts in recent college football history:
$18.9 million
(estimated)
Charlie Weis
Former school: Notre Dame
Date of firing: Nov. 30, 2009
Agent: Bob LaMonte
Estimated remaining buyout: Two annual payments of $2,054,744
Note: The Fighting Irish have already paid Weis more than $14.8 million not to coach, including an initial payment of about $6.6 million.
$7.9 million
Bo Pelini
Former school: Nebraska
Date of firing: Nov. 30, 2014
Agent: Neil Cornrich
Estimated remaining buyout: 46 monthly payments of $132,176
Note: FCS program Youngstown State will pay Pelini $213,894 to coach its team this year; Nebraska will pay him $1.59 million not to coach the Cornhuskers.
$7.5 million
Gene Chizik
Former school: Auburn
Date of firing: Nov. 25, 2012
Agent: Russ Campbell
Estimated remaining buyout: Eight monthly payments of $200,000
Note: The Tigers paid more than $12.5 million in buyouts for the past two head coaches they ran off -- Chizik and Tommy Tuberville ($5.083 million).
$6.3 million
Will Muschamp
Former school: Florida
Date of firing: Nov. 16, 2014
Agent: Jimmy Sexton
Estimated remaining buyout: Two annual payments of $2.1 million
Note: Muschamp will be paid $2.1 million from Florida and $1.6 million as Auburn's defensive coordinator. His $3.7 million salary would have been more than what all but 12 Power 5 head coaches were paid last year.
$5.625 million
Charlie Weis
Former school: Kansas
Date of firing: Sept. 28, 2014
Agent: Bob LaMonte
Estimated remaining buyout: 19 monthly payments of $200,893
Note: Weis earned about $2.1 million for each of his six victories at Kansas -- including wins over South Dakota, South Dakota State and Southeast Missouri State.
$5.5 million
Jeff Tedford
Former school: California
Date of firing: Nov. 20, 2012
Agent: Tim Younger
Estimated remaining buyout: Seven monthly payments of $198,000
Note: Cal's buyout to Tedford would have been reduced only if he'd accepted another coaching job that paid more than $1.5 million annually.
$5 million
Derek Dooley
Former school: Tennessee
Date of firing: Nov. 18, 2012
Agent: Sexton
Estimated remaining buyout: 18 monthly payments of $104,167
Note: With the buyout alone, the Volunteers paid an average of $1.25 million for their four SEC victories during his three-year tenure.
$3 million
Brady Hoke
Former school: Michigan
Date of firing: Dec. 2, 2014
Agent: Trace Armstrong
Estimated remaining buyout: 19 monthly payments of $125,000
Note: Including his buyout and the $1 million paid to San Diego State to buy out his contract there, the Wolverines paid Hoke more than $15 million to coach four seasons.
$2.75 million
Mack Brown
Former school: Texas
Date of resignation: Dec. 14, 2013
Agent: Joe Jamail
Estimated remaining buyout: Three annual payments of $687,500
Note: Brown also received a one-year job as special assistant to UT president Bill Powers with a $500,000 salary.
$2.5 million
Skip Holtz
Former school: South Florida
Date of firing: Dec. 2, 2012
Agent: Himself
Estimated remaining buyout: Three annual payments of $500,000
Note:The Bulls gave Holtz a three-year extension in July 2012 -- then fired him about five months later, costing the school an additional $1.5 million in the buyout.
$2.1 million
Ellis Johnson
Former school: Southern Miss
Date of firing: Nov. 27, 2012
Agent: Richard Davis
Estimated remaining buyout: One annual payment of $333,000
Note: According to Deadspin.com, Southern Miss sold its 2013 home opener against Nebraska (moving it to Lincoln) for $2.1 million -- the same amount the Golden Eagles owed Johnson for firing him.
