The list goes on... Source: https://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/coach
| Rank | Coach | School | Total Pay | Conf. | Scheduled School Pay | Contract Year Pandemic Reduction | Actual School Pay | Total Pandemic Reduction | School Buyout as of 12/1/2021 |
| 1 | Nick Saban | Alabama | $9,753,221* | SEC | $9,500,000 | $0* | $9,500,000 | $0* | $38,400,000 |
| 2 | Ed Orgeron | Louisiana State | $9,012,917* | SEC | $8,687,500 | $300,000* | $8,387,500 | $300,000* | $17,150,000 |
| 3 | David Shaw | Stanford | $8,924,683* | Pac-12 | $8,924,683 | — | $8,924,683 | — | — |
| 4 | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $8,370,775* | ACC | $9,508,575 | $1,250,000* | $8,258,575 | $1,250,000* | $47,500,000 |
| 5 | Lincoln Riley | Oklahoma | $7,672,710* | Big 12 | $7,857,293 | $214,583* | $7,642,710 | $515,000* | $25,188,000 |
| 6 | Dan Mullen | Florida | $7,570,000* | SEC | $7,570,000 | $0* | $7,570,000 | $0* | $12,000,000 |
| 7 | Jimbo Fisher | Texas A&M | $7,500,000* | SEC | $7,500,000 | $0* | $7,500,000 | $0* | $95,575,000 |
| 8 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $7,133,600 | SEC | $7,003,600 | $0 | $7,003,600 | $0 | $14,614,167 |
| 9 | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $6,614,693* | Big Ten | $6,750,000 | $135,307* | $6,614,693 | $236,877* | $28,416,668 |
| 10 | Gary Patterson | Texas Christian | $6,103,543 | Big 12 | $6,103,543 | — | $6,103,543 | — | — |
