Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is the No. 47 highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA TODAY’s 2025 compensation survey. The Cyclones coach is set to earn a total of $5,009,886, not including bonuses, which ranks No. 8 in the Big 12 Conference.
USA TODAY’s available data does not include total pay figures for Big 12 member BYU.
Amounts for coaches at private schools or Pittsburgh are based the schools’ most recently available financial records, which cover the 2023 calendar year and include all forms of pay from the school, including bonuses.
Here’s what you need to know about Campbell’s contract with Iowa State in 2025.
View the entire 2025 college football coach salary database here
How much does Iowa State pay Matt Campbell in 2025?
Iowa State is scheduled to pay Campbell $5,000,000 for the 2025 season. But that number could go up based on potential bonuses. School pay includes a $1 million annual life insurance premium payment by the university, which is entitled to reimbursement from the policy’s death benefits.
How much is Matt Campbell’s buyout at Iowa State in 2025?
As of Dec. 1, 2025, if the school fires Campbell without cause, he would be set to receive $35,416,667, which ranks as the No. 17 most expensive buyout out of the 105 USA TODAY’s could review and No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference.
USA TODAY’s available data does not include buyout figures for Big 12 members TCU, Baylor and BYU.
All buyout figures are calculated using the same hypothetical date of a coach’s separation with their school. Many of the buyout clauses reviewed by USA TODAY are expressly subject to a coach’s duty to make good-faith efforts to find another job, with income from that employment offsetting the amount owed. If mitigation and offset are not addressed in contract, the coach may still have an obligation to make efforts in that regard. The amount listed may be owed to the coach over an extended period of time, rather than as a lump sum at termination. Amount may not take into account per-day pro-rating for a partial contract year.
How much can Matt Campbell earn in bonuses in 2025?
The most Campbell can earn in bonuses from Iowa State for the 2025-26 season and school year is $2,350,000, which ranks as the No. 11 greatest possible total out of the 111 that USA TODAY could review. Campbell’s maximum bonus ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference.
USA TODAY’s available data does not include maximum bonus figures for Big 12 members TCU, Baylor and BYU.
To see the methodology behind these data, click here.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell 2025 contract, salary, buyout
Reporting by Blake Schuster, USA TODAY / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
