As the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes prepare to clash at Hard Rock Stadium for the College Football Playoff National Championship, the scoreboard may read 0-0, but the financial stakes for the coaches are anything but balanced. Both Mario Cristobal and Curt Cignetti have navigated the often tumultuous world of college coaching to reach enviable financial heights—a testament to their prowess on the gridiron and savvy career management.

This year’s championship game is not only a battle on the field but also a fascinating tale of two coaches who have defied the traditional economic trajectory in college sports. Cristobal and Cignetti have surpassed the standard coaching career ladder, opting instead for a trajectory that could be likened to a golden elevator. Their annual earnings now outpace those of many prominent NFL players, marking a financial triumph in their careers.

While both coaches honed their skills under the tutelage of Nick Saban at Alabama’s renowned “coaching rehabilitation” program, their journeys to head coaching success and financial prosperity were markedly different.

The Early Grind: Waiting vs. Rising

For Cristobal, the path to fiscal prosperity was a steady climb. He began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Miami in the late 1990s before securing his first head coaching role at Florida International University (FIU) in 2007. Though his initial salary was a modest $350,000, it set the stage for his future in major college football. By the time he joined Saban’s staff in 2013, Cristobal was earning over $500,000 as an assistant, firmly positioning him in the upper echelons of the coaching sphere.

In contrast, Cignetti’s journey was one of patience and risk. In 2010, he earned a higher salary than Cristobal as Alabama’s wide receivers coach, taking home $250,000. The following year, however, he made a bold move by accepting a head coaching position at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), despite a drastic 50% pay cut. For six years, Cignetti dedicated himself to building a successful program at IUP, earning $125,000 annually, while Cristobal was busy amassing national championships with Alabama and setting the stage for his lucrative move to Oregon.

As these two coaching titans prepare to lead their teams into the national spotlight, their stories serve as a reminder of the diverse pathways to success in the world of college football—a realm where patience, risk, and strategic career moves can lead to both championship glory and financial rewards.

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Breakout: Oregon vs. James Madison

The gap widened significantly in the late 2010s.

By 2018, Cristobal had taken the reins at Oregon. His salary jumped from $2.5 million to over $4.5 million by 2021 as he restored the Ducks to glory. He was firmly established as a “Power Five” millionaire.

Meanwhile, Cignetti was still climbing the lower rungs. In 2019, he took over at James Madison (then FCS). His salary was $425,000. Even as he dominated the competition and successfully transitioned the program to the FBS level, his compensation in 2023 was just $677,000—less than the league minimum for an NFL rookie.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Explosion: The 2024-2026 Shift

This is where the lines on the graph intersect and then skyrocket.

Cristobal’s move to Miami in 2022 reset the market. His 10-year, $80 million deal came with a front-loaded record-breaker: in his first year, he earned $22.7 million (a figure inflated by Miami covering his massive Oregon buyout and the taxes on it). Since then, his “cruising altitude” salary has been a steady $8.3 million.

Cignetti, however, has pulled off the financial comeback of the century. After proving his worth instantly at Indiana in 2024 (earning a bargain $4.5 million base), the market corrected violently in his favor.

Following the Hoosiers’ historic playoff run, Indiana locked him down with an eight-year, $93 million extension. His average annual value (AAV) now sits at $11.6 million.

In a stunning reversal, the man who was making $138,000 a decade ago is now earning $3 million more per season than the man who has been a head coach at major programs for years.

Tale of the Tape: 2026 Season Salary

Here is how the two coaches stack up entering the title game:

2026 Base Salary:

• Curt Cignetti: ~$11.6 Million
• Mario Cristobal: ~$8.3 Million

Total Career Earnings (Estimated):

• Curt Cignetti: ~$28 Million
• Mario Cristobal: ~$75 Million

Buyout (If Fired Without Cause):

• Curt Cignetti: ~$80 Million
• Mario Cristobal: ~$62 Million

Current Contract Length:

• Curt Cignetti: Through 2033
• Mario Cristobal: Through 2031

The Verdict

On Monday night, Curt Cignetti and Mario Cristobal play for a trophy. But in a profession where money is the ultimate scoreboard, both men have already taken home the championship.