Ross Bjork explains Mike Elko's contract being College Football Playoff incentivized

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Texas A&M Set to Hire Mike Elko

Whenever discussing Texas A&M potentially firing Jimbo Fisher, the first thing brought up was his contract — 10-year, $95 million deal that was fully guaranteed with a $77 million buyout. Eventually, AD Ross Bjork pulled the trigger and decided to move on from Fisher. Saying the Aggies were stuck in neutral, somebody new was needed to take a step forward.

Despite Mark Stoops reportedly being the guy for a few hours, Texas A&M eventually landed on Duke head coach Mike Elko. His contract, which was revealed during a Monday press conference, will look a whole lot different when compared to Fisher’s. A base salary of $7 million will occur every year but Bjork made up the rest with incentives when it comes to the College Football Playoff.

“I think with the CFP expanding to 12 teams and given where we are, given our resources, given the commitment to football — that if we have the right coach and the right plan that we should be in the hunt every year for those playoff spots,” Bjork said. “That’s how we looked at it. We know there’s got to be a base salary. But then the rest of it is based off making and earning your way through the CFP.”

Certainly, the $7 million base salary is not any kind of chump change. But among his peers around the SEC, Elko will not be in the upper echelon. In fact, he would rank No. 9 in the SEC entering the 2023 season.

He would fall down a spot if you include Texas and Oklahoma in the conference, with Brent Venables making $7.1 million a year.

Elko will have the opportunity to earn himself some serious money if Texas A&M is able to perform in the College Football Playoff. It’s what the program wants, expects, and needs in the near future.

$1 million for making the College Football Playoff
$1.5 million for advancing to the CFP quarterfinals and/or winning the SEC
$2 million for advancing to the CFP semifinals
$2.5 million for advancing to the CFP national championship game
$3.5 for winning the CFP national championship

Texas A&M and Bjork have likely learned from their mistakes with Fisher. Instead of handing out a blank national championship plaque during the introductory press conference, the Aggies are showing they want somebody who can earn an elite salary based on their in-season achievements.

“I just think having a 12-team playoff, the incentive-based process of a contract,” Bjork said. “The market here in the SEC — we wanted to be fair in the market… I think the landscape can change where you actually have to earn things.

“If somebody believes in themselves, believe in their plan, they have the right approach, they’ll earn it. And you have a chance to be paid like a national championship-level coach.”