Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks from the sidelines during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
So far this season, many of the lesser-paid head football coaches in the Big 12 Conference have outperformed their better-compensated counterparts.
Arizona State's Kenny Dillinghman, Cincinnati's Kenny Dillingham and Iowa State's Matt Campbell each own winning records while Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy and Kansas' Lance Leipold have struggled. At Colorado, head coach Deion Sanders owns one of the Big 12's most lucrative contracts and is now stringing together wins amid his second season leading the Buffs.
Oct 12, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake looks on against the Arizona Wildcats during the second quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
As a private university, BYU is not required to disclose ninth-year head coach Kalani Sitake's salary.
15. 15 — Brent Brennan, Arizona
Sep 28, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan (center) during the third quarter against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Salary: $3,100,000
Former San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan is making just over $3 million in his first year leading the Wildcats.
14. 14 — Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield speaks with Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) before the College Football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Houston Cougars at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Salary: $3,600,000
At 4-2 entering Week 8, Scott Satterfield's Bearcats have played better than many expected so far this season.
13. 13 — Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham calls out to his players against Wyoming during a game at Sun Devil Stadium.
Salary: $3,950,000
With how quickly Kenny Dillingham has turned ASU around, the second-year Sun Devils head coach might be looking for a raise soon.
12. T11 — Gus Malzahn, UCF
Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Salary: $4,000,000
Former Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn is making $4 million in his fourth season at UCF.
11. T11 — Neal Brown, West Virginia
Dec 27, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown celebrates with his team after the win over North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $4,000,000
Head coach Neal Brown's Mountaineers are 3-3 entering a huge Week 8 game against Kansas State.
10. 10 — Matt Campbell, Iowa State
July 13, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell speaks at his press conference on the second day of Big 12 Media Days in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, July 13, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $4,009,886
The Iowa State Cyclones are off to a 6-0 start in Matt Campbell's ninth season in Ames.
9. 9 — Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
Oct 5, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire yells at team during fourth quarter against Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
Salary: $4,247,960
Led by an explosive offense, the Red Raiders are 5-1 amid Joey McGuire's third season at the helm.
8. 8 — Willie Fritz, Houston
Houston coach Willie Fritz celebrates with his players after a Houston interception during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
Salary: $4,500,000
Before landing at Houston this past offseason, Willie Fritz won 54 games leading the Tulane Green Wave from 2016-2023.
7. 7 — Dave Aranda, Baylor
Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Salary: $4,540,885
Dave Aranda's seat might be heating up as the Bears are still looking for their first Big 12 win.
6. 6 — Sonny Dykes, TCU
Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes is interviewed during the Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Salary: $5,008,414
Two years after leading TCU to the College Football Playoff, Sonny Dykes' Horned Frogs are 3-3 entering Week 8.
5. 5 — Chris Klieman, Kansas State
Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Dylan Edwards (3) celebrates with head coach Chris Klieman after a touchdown during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Salary: $5,250,000
Chris Klieman's Kansas State Wildcats are 5-1 after beating Colorado last weekend in Boulder.
4. 4 — Deion Sanders, Colorado
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes talks with Shedeur Sanders #2 during the second half of a game against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Salary: $5,700,000
Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, the most-talked-about head coach in college football, has Colorado off to a 4-2 start in his second season leading the Buffs.
3. 3 — Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Sep 14, 2024; Logan, Utah, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham watches his team play against the Utah State Aggies at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Salary: $6,525,000
Under longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, the Utes are 1-2 in conference play and have lost starting quarterback Cam Rising to a season-ending injury.
2. 2 — Lance Leipold, Kansas
Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Salary: $7,500,000
At 1-5, the Kansas Jayhawks have been a massive disappointment this season, but Lance Leipold's seat appears safe for now.
1. 1 — Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks off the field in the second half during an NCAA football game between Oklahoma State and Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
Salary: $7,750,000
Similar to Kansas and Utah, Mike Gundy's Cowboys have struggled in Big 12 play due to inconsistent quarterback play. Can the highest-paid head coach in the conference get the Cowboys back on track?
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