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�鶹ֱ�� & Lardner LLP attorneys Jon Israel, Zachary Flagel, and Mackenna Dunn explore college coaching contract buyout trends in their Sports Business Journal article, “.”

“By December 2025, universities had committed nearly a quarter-billion dollars in buyouts to football coaches they no longer employ — a record high that reflects structural flaws in how coaching contracts are negotiated,” the authors write. “Long guarantees and broad termination language leave athletic departments vulnerable to enormous mid-contract costs.”

They examine the burdens legacy contracts place on universities as they collide with a transformed college sports landscape shaped by NIL and revenue sharing, offering perspective on why multimillion-dollar coaching contract buyouts hurt more now than ever and laying out multiple contract strategies that can help schools beat the ‘buyout trap.’

“The legal and political realities mean lasting change must come from universities. The perpetuation of escalating buyouts is not inevitable; they result from contractual choices,” the authors conclude. “Taking more measured steps in drafting and negotiating contracts can slow buyout inflation, reduce financial volatility, and protect the long-term stability of college athletics.”

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