SEC News: Ranking the top salaries for Georgia, Alabama and LSU head coaches

The SEC is one of the most storied and best conferences in college football. As such, the conference is known to bring big paydays for head coaches who lead teams in that conference.

More news: Oregon Duck fires his shot at Sydney Sweeney and closes

USA Today released its annual college football head coaching salary database, which reveals how much money the top programs pay their coaches. Naturally, plenty of SEC coaches have made the top 10.

No. 1: Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs are paying top dollar to keep Kirby Smart running the program. He tops the list with a whopping $13.28 million per season. The school itself pays Smart $13.003 million and has also received a cap bonus of $1.775 million. He has already received a $275,000 bonus for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

It’s no surprise that Smart is being paid top dollar, as he led Georgia to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Right now, the Bulldogs are 3-1 and ranked fifth in the nation.

Smart has a $118.8 million buyout and is signed through 2033.

No. 3 – Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns

Texas is the best college team in the SEC and is also the best in the country. Steve Sarkisian is doing wonders and has the best quarterback tandem in the country with Quinn Ewers and Archie Manning. Texas is currently 6-0 and looks like the team to beat this season.

For Sarkisian’s efforts, he is paid $10.6 million per season. He has a $1.85 million cap hit and has already received $300,000 for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Sarkisian has a $55.044 million buyout and is currently signed through 2030.

No. 7 – Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide

After Sarkisian and Smart, there is a significant drop in the top-earning SEC head coaches in college football. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is No. 7 on the list, with a $10 million payday, along with a $1.175 million cap bonus.

DeBoer left Washington to take over Alabama when Nick Saban finally hung up his coaching whistle. So far, DeBoer and Alabama have a 5-1 record and are ranked seventh in the nation. Whether DeBoer can lead the Crimson Tide to a national title remains to be seen, but he’s being paid as he should be.

DeBoer has a $70.05 million buyout and is signed through 2031.

No. 8 – Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers

Following DeBoer is LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly, who comes in with an annual payday of $9.975 million per season. His salary also includes a $1.325 million cap hit and has earned a $100,000 bonus for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Kelly and the Tigers are sporting a 5-1 record and look like a tough team in the SEC. The Tigers are also ranked eighth in the country. The Tigers just beat Ole Miss and must defeat Texas A&M and Alabama if they want to clinch a national title.

Kelly has a $61.73 million buyout and is signed through 2032.

No. 9 – Mark Stoops, Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats are in a bit of a tough spot in the SEC. They have a 3-3 overall record, but have been defeated by Georgia and Ole Miss. Having a 1-2 conference record will be tough to break out of.

Although the team has a 3-3 record, head coach Mark Stoops ranks ninth in the top 10 head coaching salaries with an annual payday of $9 million. He also has a $3.55 million cap hit and has earned $200,000 for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Stoops has been Kentucky’s head coach since 2013, but at such a high price he could be on his way if he can’t turn things around. Stoops has an overall record of 76-68.

Stoops has a $44.4 million buyout and is signed through 2031.

No. 10 – Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss Rebels’ Lane Kiffin rounds out the top 10 highest paid head coaches in the SEC. Kiffin makes $9 million per season, with a $2.6 million cap bonus and has been paid an $800,000 bonus so far for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Kiffin took over Ole Miss in 2020 and has a 39-17 record. The Rebels are currently ranked 18th in the nation and have an overall record of 5-2. However, they are also 1-2 in the SEC on the year.

Kiffin has been instrumental in turning the Rebels around, even though they have yet to win a national title. Still, Kiffin could be on his way to achieving that dream soon.

Kiffin has a $36.59 million buyout and is signed through 2029.

For more NCAA news, go to Newsweek Sports.