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Dabo Swinney's salary: Where Clemson's coach ranks, buyout details

Swinney is the second highest-paid coach in college football at $11.1 million, according to USA TODAY Sports. As of last year, his total buyout is $60 million which ranks as the fifth most-expensive in college football.

Swinney signed a 10-year, $115 million contract extension with Clemson in 2022 and runs through 2031. This came on the heels of two national championships and total domination in the ACC. Swinney is also the winningest coach in school history.

However, Swinney's biggest downfall is his failure to adapt with the new NIL era. He has not embraced use of the transfer portal as a tool to improve his roster and paying players is not open for him. Clemson won an ACC title and appeared in the College Football Playoff last year.

Swinney's salary in detail, including an "Alabama clause" buyout

2025: $11.3 million

2026 - 2031: $11.5 million per year

The contract includes significant incentive bonuses up to $1.5 million, such as extra money for reaching and winning the College Football Playoff, and features a unique clause that increases the buyout amount 150% if he leaves to coach the University of Alabama.

2025: $6 million
2026: $4.5 million
2027: $4.5 million
2028: $3 million
2029: $3 million
2030: $1.5 million
2031: $0

First introduced in 2019, Swinney's contract includes an Alabama-specific clause that bumps up the cost of his buyout should he take over at Alabama. He was a walk-on wide receiver for the Crimson Tide and was a member of the 1992 national championship team.