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Morning Edition

January 10, 2025

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Notre Dame’s independence keeps paying off—literally. With a thrilling Orange Bowl win over Penn State, the Fighting Irish advanced to the national championship and maxed out their $20 million CFP payout. We break down how they earned their postseason payday.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]] and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Notre Dame Win Brings Its Solo CFP Purse to $20 Million [[link removed]]

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Notre Dame increased its College Football Playoff payout [[link removed]] to $20 million—the maximum the independent school can earn this postseason—with its 27–24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night.

There is $116 million CFP bonus money up for grabs [[link removed]] based on schools reaching the Playoff and how far they advance in it. For the other 11 universities, the money they earn goes to their conference, where it is then distributed. But Notre Dame, which is independent, keeps every penny it earns.

Irish Pot of Gold

Here’s the sum for the Fighting Irish:

$4 million for qualifying for the CFP $4 million for advancing to the quarterfinals $6 million for advancing to the semifinals $6 million for advancing to the national championship game

There is no additional payment for the winner of the title game.

Penn State and Ohio State each earned $14 million for the Big Ten—$28 million total—for advancing to the semifinals. Texas also earned $14 million for the SEC. Another $6 million is up for grabs for the Big Ten or SEC, depending on who wins Friday night’s Cotton Bowl.

Notre Dame’s CFP run has validated its commitment to remaining independent [[link removed]], despite calls for the Fighting Irish to join a conference—even from Penn State coach James Franklin [[link removed]].

Remaining CFP Coaches Vie for National Title—and Big Pay Raises [[link removed]]

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

As the College Football Playoff semifinals play out—Notre Dame beat Penn State 27-24 on Thursday night to advance to the title game—each of the remaining coaches is not only fighting for his first national championship but also potentially a big salary bump.

Friday night’s Cotton Bowl [[link removed]] features the two highest-paid coaches of this year’s final four, with the Longhorns’ Steve Sarkisian and the Buckeyes’ Ryan Day each earning more than $10 million this season. Sarkisian received a raise and contract extension in February 2024, while Day’s most recent deal was signed in 2022.

While this year’s CFP runs have already resulted in six-figure bonuses for some coaches [[link removed]], a national championship victory could extend the winning coach’s salary even higher.

In 2022, Georgia gave head coach Kirby Smart a raise of more than $3 million annually, from roughly $7 million to $10.25 million, after his first national championship in 2021. Smart’s pay was bumped again in 2024, and he is now the highest-paid coach in college football, making more than $13 million each year.

In 2020, LSU boosted former head coach Ed Orgeron’s salary from $4 million to $6 million after the Tigers won the 2019 national title. However, not even two full seasons later, LSU paid Orgeron a $17 million buyout, firing the coach midway through the 2021 campaign. After Dabo Swinney won his first national championship at Clemson in 2016, he saw his annual salary jump by more than a million [[link removed]] to $6.5 million. He now makes more than $11 million per year.

Notre Dame announced a contract extension for head coach Marcus Freeman in December. Since the university is private, his salary is not public information like others. However, Irish Illustrated reported his pay was being bumped from roughly $7 million to more than $9 million [[link removed]].

In 2021, Penn State signed James Franklin to a 10-year extension that pays him $8.5 million annually.

SPONSORED BY EA SPORTS

Bring Glory Home

As the college football world looks to crown a national champion in Atlanta, 133 fan bases will be left wondering what could have been.

Don’t wait until next season. Run it back and lead your school to victory in EA Sports College Football 25 [[link removed]]. From iconic atmospheres and traditions to unique playbooks and home field advantages, it’s all in the game. Whether it’s building your program and recruiting in Dynasty Mode or competing for a Heisman Trophy in Road to Glory, EA Sports College Football 25 has something for every diehard fan. See you on the sticks! [[link removed]]

Full-Circle Quinn Ewers Saga in Spotlight at Cotton Bowl [[link removed]]

Austin American-Statesman

The curious case of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and his future—thanks to wild NIL (name, image, and likeness) rumors—has extended into the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Ahead of the Longhorns facing Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, Ewers had to dismiss multiple questions during his media day session about where he will play next season.

“I’d be doing a disservice to my teammates to be even thinking about what’s next because what’s right in front of us isn’t over yet,” said Ewers, a senior who has one year of eligibility remaining.

Heading into this season, Ewers had high NFL Draft stock, but that has fallen some, and the idea of transferring to a school that could pay him a big NIL sum [[link removed]] next season has gained steam. “That’s too selfish of thinking—for me to be even thinking about what’s next,” Ewers said. The quarterback is said to have received a $6 million NIL offer to enter the transfer portal, according to On3.

Texas has redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning waiting in the wings, so the only option for Ewers to start in college next season may be outside of Austin. “Right now, I’m just not worried about all that stuff,” Ewers said. “People can say all they want to say, but I’m just focused on Friday at this point in time.”

Weighing the Odds

If Ewers were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, he would be guaranteed at minimum a four-year, $13 million contract [[link removed]], according to Spotrac projections. That guaranteed payout drops to under $7 million at the bottom of the second round, and to just over $4 million in the third.

Cam Ward was projected as a second- to fourth-round prospect last season. He transferred from Washington State to Miami and benefited from a healthy NIL deal, and now profiles as a top-10 pick with a contract exceeding $20 million.

So, a big NIL deal for one more season of college football—and the chance to improve his NFL Draft stock for 2026—could be enough for Ewers to stay in school, even if it’s not at Texas.

SPONSORED BY EA SPORTS

What If?

Season not go your way? Rewrite history in EA Sports College Football 25 [[link removed]] and dominate the competition as you build a dynasty for the ages and bring glory to your school.

With the College Football Playoff in full swing, it got us thinking …

What if the Georgia Bulldogs had a healthy Carson Beck in their Sugar Bowl matchup with Notre Dame? How about calling a different Arizona State defensive look on fourth-and-13 against Texas in the Peach Bowl? What if the committee had chosen Alabama or Ole Miss instead of Indiana or SMU?

It’s all possible in EA Sports College Football 25 [[link removed]]. Live out your college football dreams and control your team’s destiny today!

Conversation Starters Kirk Herbstreit is #Globetrotting again—with two CFP games and an NFL wild-card game from Thursday to Sunday. Check out [[link removed]] his journey. TGL, the indoor golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, launched Tuesday. Take a look [[link removed]] at the scene from inside the SoFi Center in Florida. The NHL will host two outdoor games in Florida in 2026: the Winter Classic at Miami’s loanDepot park and a Stadium Series game at the Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium. Learn more here [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden’s Title IX Interpretation [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]The rule would have granted protections to transgender students. TGL’s First Match Drew Nearly a Million Viewers on ESPN: What It Means [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]]The new indoor golf league founded by Tiger Woods debuted Tuesday night. Air Quality Issues Loom Over NFL Playoffs Amid Los Angeles Fires [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The Chargers already changed practice plans Wednesday due to poor air quality. Question of the Day

Is James Franklin right? Should Notre Dame be compelled to join a conference?

YES [[link removed]] NO [[link removed]]

Thursday’s result: 42% of respondents would travel to see their favorite school in a CFP semifinal game despite this week’s extreme weather.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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