Luke Fickell gives his take on high buyouts in college football coaching contracts

Nearly a dozen college football coaches, including a quarter of those in the SEC have been fired in 2025. In turn, some massive contract buyout figures have been dealt.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell revealed his perspective on the nature of buyouts in today’s college football landscape. He provided some interesting analysis on where he sees the sport heading over the next few years.

“There are some definite things I would imagine you’ll see differently in the college football landscape over the next few years,” Fickell said on Monday. “When it comes with regards to coaches, what that is, I’m not saying, but I would guess whatever that landscape looks like at the next level is probably going to be a little bit closer to what that will look like at the college level as well.

“And there probably just isn’t as much time in some places and as much leeway in some places. But who might have, might have said, like I said, I’m focused on the good thing is we here know what it is that we believe in, and aren’t hopefully going to be swayed by what is better for everybody else.”

According to Front Office Sports, the coaching buyouts in the College Football Playoff era alone has surpassed over $1 billion. $185 million of that has been paid out to fired coaches in 2025 — and there’s still a month left in the regular season.

Fickell himself appeared to be on the hot seat amid Wisconsin’s 2-6 start to the season. However, the Wisconsin leadership has come out in support of Fickell this season, putting an end to any hot seat talk for the moment. Relatedly, his buyout isn’t cheap, either.

According to his contract, Fickell would be owed 80% of what is remaining on his initial deal. When the 2025 season is over, Fickell will have four years and just over $30 million left on his original seven-year contract he signed in 2022. In turn, his buyout comes out to approximately $25 million.

That type of language is costing athletic departments, collectively, over a billion dollars over the past decade and change. It remains to be seen if that number will grow before the offseason, or when it begins as the coaching carousel kicks into full gear.

Fickell currently has a 15–19 record as the head coach at Wisconsin. They’ll host No. 24 Washington this weekend as the Badgers will have to win out to qualify for a bowl game.