Highest-Paid College Football Coaches: Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Contract Buy Out

Lanning has helped lead the 13-0 Oregon Ducks to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and a Big Ten Championship in 2024. Since taking over in 2022, Lanning's Ducks have been one of the best teams in college football, with a 35-5 so far through his first three seasons. 

Lanning is in elite company, as his 35 wins are second-most among active head coaches since 2022 behind only Georgia's Kirby Smart (39).

Those 35 wins are the most by any Oregon head coach through his first 40 games.

Lanning has led the Ducks to three straight double-digit win seasons, going 10-3 in his debut season in 2022 and 12-2 in 2023 before guiding Oregon to its historic 13-0 start so far this season. 

This season, Oregon is the only FBS team in the top 15 for scoring offense (13th), total offense (13th), scoring defense (12th) and total defense (9th).

This year is Lanning's second year of a six-year deal he signed in 2023 with Oregon.

With all that success, it's no wonder why Oregon fans hope that Lanning stays a Duck for the long haul. Lanning has reiterated that the "grass is damn green in Eugene" whenever his name is rumored for a different coaching job, including an NFL coaching job.

Lanning has a reported $20 million buyout that will have to be paid if opts to leave Oregon for another coaching job.

“(Coaching in the NFL) used to be a goal of mine,” Lanning said last week on The Zach Gelb Show. “At this point, everybody can realize that I’m not going anywhere.”

“I love what we have here," Lanning continued. "I’ve got three young boys that love Eugene. We have a lot of unfinished business that we hope to handle, and I’m enjoying the ride. This will be the place that I’m coaching for a long, long time as long as I continue to do my job.”

Lanning and the Ducks hope to keep the undefeated season alive against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. PT.

Big Ten coaches making more than Lanning are Riley ($10,043,418), Day ($10,021,250) and Penn State's James Franklin ($8,500,000).

While Lanning's contract could be considered a deal... Riley is the fourth-highest paid coach in college football in 2024 and could be considered the worst contract.

Since Riley has taken over the USC program, the Trojans have gone from 11-3 in 2022, 8-5 in 2023 and now 6-6. In 2022, Riley signed a 10-year contract worth $110 million dollars as USC head coach, a move that shocked the college football world.

The 15 Highest-Paid College Football Coaches in 2024

1. Georgia, Kirby Smart - $13,282,580

2. Clemson, Dabo Swinney - $11,132,775

3. Texas, Steve Sarkisian - $10,600,000

4. USC, Lincoln Riley - $10,043,418

5. Ohio State, Ryan Day - $10,021,250

6. Florida State, Mike Norvell - $10,000,000

7. Alabama, Kalen DeBoer - $10,000,000

8. LSU, Brian Kelly - $9,975,000

9. Kentucky, Mark Stoops - $9,013,600

10. Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin - $9,000,000

11. Missouri, Eliah Drinkwitz - $9,000,000

12. Tennessee, Josh Heupel - $9,000,000

13. Penn State, James Franklin - $8,500,000

14. Oregon, Dan Lanning - $8,200,000

15. Oklahoma, Brent Venables - $8,152,000