How much is Dana Holgorsen's contract buyout? Houston HC's salary and future in CFB explored

Dana Holgorsen has had an up and down year leading the Houston Cougars in their first season of Big 12 play as they are 3-4 and have not won two games in a row at any point this season. There has been speculation that he could be in the hot seat if the Cougars are unable to turn things around.

Holgorsen is due $18 million over the next four years if he remains in place as Houston's head coach.

Prior to the 2023 season, Ryan Monceaux of Go Coogs broke down how any buyout would be paid out:

"Holgorsen’s total compensation from January of this year through the end of his contract (December 31, 2027) is $22,500,000 – an average of $4,500,000 per year. In terms of a buyout, he is owed 100% of his salary/non-salary compensation in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and then 60% of the final two years."

He continued:

"If he were to be let go at the end of the 2023 season (before December 1, 2023), he would be owed $14,838,000. But that buyout is not and has never been a lump sum payout. The University pays Dana monthly and, per his contract, has the right to pay a buyout monthly, too."

Monceaux noted that Holgorsen would be owed about $303,000 per month if he is fired at the conclusion of the 2023 season. It is unclear if the Cougars will look to make a change following this season.

What has Dana Holgorsen said about his future?

Dana Holgorsen was named in an ESPN list of coaches in the hot seat entering the 2023 season. Speaking with Sam Khan Jr. ahead of the season, the Houston Cougars coach said:

"We won 20 games in two years. We won bowl games in back-to-back years. I have five years on my contract with a f------ impossible buyout. … So there ain’t no f------ hot seat in my mind. There just ain’t." [h/t Houston Chronicle]

While Dana Holgorsen did lead the Cougars to 20 wins over two seasons, including an impressive 12-2 2021 season, the team has struggled to adapt to the Big 12 in 2023. The Cougars are just 3-4, which includes a 1-3 record in conference play.

They still have five conference games remaining, however, and a strong performance down the stretch could quiet all chatter about the future of Holgorsen's job. If the team struggles through that stretch, the chatter could get much louder.