Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cal makes Ron Rivera one of college football's highest-paid GMs

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 2d

University of California football GM, and former NFL coach, Ron Rivera is making $800,000 annually and can earn $800,000 in additional performance-based bonuses, according to information released today to @usatodaysports.usatoday.com: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

California Golden Bears football revealed more salary information about the significant investment it made in former NFL coach and new GM Ron Rivera.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 2d

Collegiate Commissioners Association has sent letter to members of U.S. House of Representatives saying commissioners of 31 Division I conferences back passage of SCORE Act, bill from Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) that has passed two committees and can be brought to floor

Ohio University football coach Brian Smith working without a contract

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 2d

Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Commerce Committee, announces she has sent letter to Big Ten school CEO's concerning possible private-capital deal.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 2d

Halfway through his team's regular season, a major-college football head coach is still working without a contract. A look at Ohio University's arrangement with Brian Smith: usatoday.com/story/sports... via
@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

For a second consecutive football season, there is a major-college coach who is essentially working without a contract, at least for now.

usatoday.com

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 2d

Inside Bill Belichick's 'first of its kind' escape hatch in North Carolina contract, from Blake Toppmeyer on Day 2 of content connected to @usatodaysports.usatoday.com annual college football head coaches' pay survey: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Inside Bill Belichick's 'first of its kind' escape hatch in North Carolina contract

Bill Belichick's buyout structure if North Carolina fired him is exceptionally unusual for a college football coaching contract.

Highest Paid College Football Coaches & Salaries - USA TODAY

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 4d

During 2019 football season -- last one before the pandemic -- there were two college head coaches making over $8 million, none making over $9.5M.

This season, nine coaches are making more than $10 million, with another now at an annualized total of $10M.
sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salarie...

Ever wondered who the highest paid coach in college football is? Find out today with USA TODAY's complete salary data.

sportsdata.usatoday.com

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 4d

Colorado is paying big bucks for Deion Sanders and his players, but how? Answer is ‘TBD’ -- a special report from @schrotenboer.bsky.social, with me and John Heasly: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Colorado is paying big bucks for Deion Sanders and his players, but how? Answer is ‘TBD’

Colorado has committed to paying tens of millions for coach Deion Sanders and his players. The question is how. Right now, it's a mystery

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 4d

The 2025 @usatodaysports.usatoday.com college football head coaches' pay survey is up and running:

Why was Sam Pittman fired at Arkansas? Record, buyout info for Razorbacks coach

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 14d

Firings so far this season by Arkansas, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Virginia Tech have those schools committed to buyouts totaling $37.1 million, subject to mitigation and offset, but not including amounts that also will be owed to assistant coaches

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 14d

Arkansas fires football head coach Sam Pittman. Per contract, he will be due a buyout of about $9.3 million, subject to a duty to mitigate, with the school entitled to offset from future income:
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Arkansas has fired Sam Pittman following a demoralizing loss to Notre Dame that dropped the Razorbacks' record to 2-3 on the season. What to know:

Why was Sam Pittman fired at Arkansas? Record, buyout info for Razorbacks coach

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 14d

Arkansas fires football head coach Sam Pittman. Per contract, he will be due a buyout of about $9.3 million, subject to a duty to mitigate, with the school entitled to offset from future income:
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Arkansas has fired Sam Pittman following a demoralizing loss to Notre Dame that dropped the Razorbacks' record to 2-3 on the season. What to know:

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 28d

From earlier: Virginia Tech fires football coach Brent Pry. Per his contract -- which had been set to run thru 12/1/27 -- he is owed buyout of just over $6.8 million. He has no specified duty to mitigate, but school would get offset from his future income.

UCLA fires football coach Deshaun Foster after 0-3 start to 2025 season

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · 28d

From earlier: UCLA fires football coach Deshaun Foster after 0-3 start to season. Per his contract -- which had been set to run thru 1/31/2029 -- he is owed buyout of nearly $6.1 million, subject to his duty to mitigate, with offset usatoday.com/story/sports... via
@usatoday

Deshaun Foster ends his tumultuous tenure as UCLA coach at 5-10, including three consecutive losses to start the season.

usatoday.com

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Sep 2

This bonus will increase to $25,000 if Utes are listed in top 25 of College Football Playoff rankings any time prior to final rankings, or to $150,000 if Utes are in final CFP or AP top 25.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Sep 2

Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham picks up $15,000 bonus, as Utes are No. 25 in this week's AP media rankings.

He gets this amount if team is in AP or US LBM Coaches Poll (in yrs when Whittingham isn't a voter, which is case this year) any time prior to end of regular season.

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Sep 2

Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham picks up $15,000 bonus, as Utes are No. 25 in this week's AP media rankings.

He gets this amount if team is in AP or US LBM Coaches Poll (in yrs when Whittingham isn't a voter, which is case this year) any time prior to end of regular season.

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 29

Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables taking $1 million pay cut for 2025 season, newly obtained contract shows usatoday.com/story/sports... via
@usatoday

Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables takes $1 million pay cut for 2025 season

Ahead of a pivotal season after a bumpy SEC debut, Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables has a new contract that lowers his salary by $1 million.

usatoday.com

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 29

Rutgers -- paying $1.1 million guarantee to Ohio -- converts 4th down and 7 from Ohio 28 with just under 2 minutes to play while leading 34-31, then runs out clock to hang on for win by that margin.

Scarlet Knights were 5 for 5 on 4th down tonight.

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 28

The week's top payouts:
-Michigan: $1.8 million to New Mexico
-Georgia: $1.7 million to Marshall
-Wisconsin: $1.6 million to Miami (Ohio)
-Penn State: $1.6 million to Nevada

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 28

We're set for kickoff of Week 1 of college football season. The long weekend includes at least 16 games in which the home school will be paying its opponent an appearance guarantee of at least $1 million.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 28

This does not include multi-million-dollar payouts coming to Va Tech and South Carolina for game in Atlanta, or Cincinnati's multi-million-dollar payout for playing "home" game against Nebraska in Kansas City, Mo.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 28

We're set for kickoff of Week 1 of college football season. The long weekend includes at least 16 games in which the home school will be paying its opponent an appearance guarantee of at least $1 million.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 28

We're set for kickoff of Week 1 of college football season. The long weekend includes at least 16 games in which the home school will be paying its opponent an appearance guarantee of at least $1 million.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 24

Per Hawaii's notes for tonight's game: UH’s last wins over a Power Conference team were against the then-Pac-12’s Arizona and Oregon State in back-to-back weeks to open the 2019 season.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 24

College football head coach bonus payouts already are underway! Hawaii coach Timmy Chang gets $7,500 bonus as Rainbow Warriors defeat Stanford on FG as time expires.

Chang gets this amount for a win at home over Power Five/Four team.

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 24

College football head coach bonus payouts already are underway! Hawaii coach Timmy Chang gets $7,500 bonus as Rainbow Warriors defeat Stanford on FG as time expires.

Chang gets this amount for a win at home over Power Five/Four team.

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 20

The SCORE Act, the college-sports bill that has been backed by several GOP leaders and advanced to the U.S. House floor, has picked up a third Democratic co-sponsor: Henry Cuellar of Texas.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Jul 14

Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, sends letter asking that leaders of House subcommittee that is set to take up college-sports bill tomorrow delay consideration and change bill in 6 ways.

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Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Jul 14

Commerce Committee has been focal point on Senate side for long-running negotiations among senators concerning a college-sports bill.

Steve Berkowitz @byberkowitz.bsky.social · Jul 14

Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Senate Commerce Committee, blasts college-sports bill that is set for markup in House subcommittee tomorrow.

“If you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists. ... "