Texas A&M's Mike Elko Ranks 8th Among Top Paid College Football Coaches

Elko's $11 million contract extension puts him just above rival Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 7:34pm

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After leading Texas A&M to an 11-2 season and the program's first College Football Playoff appearance, head coach Mike Elko has signed a six-year contract extension that makes him the 8th highest-paid college football coach in 2026 with an $11 million salary. Elko's new deal keeps him in College Station through 2031 and comes amid a wave of high-profile coaching changes in the SEC.

Why it matters

Retaining successful head coaches has become crucial for top college football programs, especially in the SEC where there was significant coaching turnover recently. Elko's extension shows Texas A&M's commitment to keeping their head coach and building on the team's recent success.

The details

Elko's $11 million salary for 2026 puts him just above rival Texas coach Steve Sarkisian ($10.8 million) and on par with Colorado's Deion Sanders. Indiana's Curt Cignetti tops the list at $13.2 million after winning the national championship. Other top-paid coaches include Georgia's Kirby Smart, new LSU coach Lane Kiffin, Ohio State's Ryan Day, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Oregon's Dan Lanning, and USC's Lincoln Riley.

  • In mid-November 2025, Elko signed a six-year contract extension with Texas A&M.
  • Elko's $11 million salary will take effect in the 2026 season.

The players

Mike Elko

The head football coach at Texas A&M University who led the Aggies to an 11-2 season and their first College Football Playoff appearance in 2025.

Steve Sarkisian

The head football coach at the University of Texas, whose $10.8 million salary in 2026 is just below Elko's.

Curt Cignetti

The head football coach at Indiana University, who tops the list of highest-paid coaches in 2026 with a $13.2 million salary after winning the national championship.

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The takeaway

In an era of high coaching turnover, especially in the SEC, Texas A&M's decision to extend Mike Elko's contract and make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football shows the program's commitment to stability and building on their recent success.