Penn State coach James Franklin makes more money than me and most likely makes more money than you, too.
But how much does he make compared to others in his line of work?
Per USA Today, if the expanded 12-team playoff were based on how much head coaches make, Penn State would fall just short.
At $8.5 million a year, Franklin ranks 13th amongst college head coaches.
Last season, he ranked 11th. Topping this year’s list is Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who makes $13.2 million. Behind Smart is Clemson’s Dabo Swinney as $11.1. After that is Texas’ Steve Sarkisian at $10.6.
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The highest-paid coach in the Big Ten is a tie between USC’s Lincoln Riley— who Franklin and Penn State beat 33-30 in an overtime thriller this past Saturday— and Ohio State’s Ryan Day, who Franklin is 0-5 against. Each make $10 million. Those are the only two that make more than Franklin. Oregon’s Dan Lanning is close to Franklin at $8.2 million. Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell (18th) and Washington’s Jedd Fisch (19th) each make 7.7 million to round out the top 20. Elsewhere nationally, Florida State’s Mike Norvell (6th) and Alabama Kalen DeBoer (7th) each make $10 million. LSU’s Brian Kelly is right there, making 9.9. Behind Kelly is a four-way tie between Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, who all make $9 million.
OTHER NUMBERS
Of the 18 head coaches in the Big Ten, only Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz (1999-) has spent more time at the same school. Ferentz isn’t too far outside the top 20, coming in at 23rd making $7 mill. Just ahead of Ferentz is first-year Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith, who makes $7.25. Right ahead of Smith is Florida’s Billy Napier ($7.37).
Napier has a losing record through 31 games at Florida and just might be fired at the end of the season. If that happens, the name James Franklin will appear on some lists, regardless of how realistic the chances are.
