Texas A&M's record $75million payout to Jimbo Fisher means Power 5 schools now remarkably owe around $145m in buyouts to coaches fired in just the last two years.
According to data gathered by ESPN, the $70m that was owed before Fisher's termination was spread among seven former coaches from seven different institutions.
Namely, Bryan Harsin from Auburn ($15.5m), Scott Frost from Nebraska ($15m), Georgia Tech's Geoff Collins ($11.4m), Wisconsin's Paul Chryst ($11m), Karl Dorrell from Colorado ($8.7m), Herm Edwards from Arizona State ($4.4m) and Zach Arnett from Mississippi State ($4m).
Fisher also nearly quadrupled the previous highest coaching payout by a public school - a $21m payout from Auburn after firing Gus Malzahn in 2020.
According to his contract, Texas A&M owes Fisher $19.2m within sixty days and $7.2m annually through 2031. The annual payments start 120 days after his firing.
Jimbo Fisher's $75m buyout amounts for more than half of the money owed by Power 5 schools
Texas A&M signed Fisher to a 10-year, $75m fully guaranteed contract in December 2017 after spending ten years in Florida State. The massive payout comes from a four-year extension signed in 2021 which raised Fisher's annual salary from $7.5m to $9m.
Athletic director Ross Bjork said on Monday that the school will fully pay for the 'monumental' expenses from the payout.
'The finances are monumental,' Bjork said. 'Let me be very clear in this next part: Texas A&M athletics and the 12th Man Foundation will be the sole sources of the necessary funds covering these transition costs.'
Fisher's firing came less than 24 hours after a 51-10 blowout over Mississippi State on Saturday.
After Bjork had meeting with Texas A&M president Gen. Mark Welsh and a four-hour discussion with the board of regents, Fisher was informed of the immediate changes in a 'quick and cordial' conversation.
Texas A&M fired Fisher on Sunday with the Aggies 'stuck in neutral', said AD Ross Bjork
Bjork cited the program's 'neutral' status as the reason for Fisher's firing.
'Clearly it didn't work out. We're going to learn from that and make sure that we don't make those same mistakes again.'
Defensive line coach Elijah Robinson will step in as the interim coach until Texas A&M finds a full-time replacement.
The Aggies' first game post-Fisher will be against the Abilene Christian Wildcats on November 18.
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