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5 most overpaid head coaches in college football for 2022

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 1, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin waits to enter the field before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin waits to enter the field before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 1, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers football head coach Brian Kelly speaks to the fans at halftime between the LSU Tigers and the Ohio Bobcats at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers football head coach Brian Kelly speaks to the fans at halftime between the LSU Tigers and the Ohio Bobcats at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brian Kelly, LSU ($9.5 million)

What does $9.5 million get you in Baton Rouge? Apparently a fake southern accent and some awkward dance moves. All jokes aside, LSU forked over a lot of money to a head coach who has never quite gotten over the hump, going winless in the playoff and getting blown out in his only national title appearance ever.

LSU has a short leash even for successful head coaches — just ask Les Miles and Ed Orgeron. In fact, just five years after making a national title game and three years after winning 10-plus games in four straight seasons, LSU fired Miles mid-season and decided to go with Orgeron as the interim and he then earned the full-time job. He won a national title in 2019 and then the two sides parted ways in 2021.

Those two instances of national title-winning head coaches being sent packing make this big contract for Brian Kelly seem somewhat head-scratching.

Kelly is tied for the third-highest paid head coach in college football, but even some Notre Dame fans were getting sick of him before his recent playoff appearances. Even then, it seemed like he could never get over the hump and win a semifinal game.

What happens if he makes the playoff at LSU and can’t win a game? Heck, this would mean he’d have to beat Alabama and win the SEC or at least make the title game — I’m not so sure I see that in his future.

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