Penn State is paying James Franklin a whole heck of a lot of money in the buyout of his contract after firing him Sunday .

But it’s not particularly close to being the most expensive firing in college football history.

Penn State owes Franklin at least $49.7 million moving forward, according to Front Office Sports .

Franklin signed a 10-year contract extension in 2021, and according to the terms released at that time, he was set to earn another $56 million in base salary between 2025 and the deal’s end in 2031.

That number ranks second among the largest buyouts for college head coaches.

Florida State fired former coach Jimbo Fisher in 2023, triggering an unfathomable $76 million buyout.

Franklin’s post-departure payday, though, is also a far cry from the third-largest buyout i

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