Nick Saban is the nation’s highest-paid college football coach for a third straight year, according to data released by USA Today.

Now in his 16th season with the Crimson Tide, Saban’s total pay for 2022 is $10.957 million, according to USA Today. Dabo Swinney was No. 2 followed by Kirby Smart.

Each of the top three in 2022 made more than Saban’s top-ranked pay in 2021. He made $9.75 million to top USA Today’s ranking last October. In 2020, Saban was highest-paid at $9.3 million.

A wave of new coaching moves and sweetened contracts led to the rise in pay for the 2022 survey done by USA Today.

Saban’s $10.957 million pay included $825,000 in bonuses. Kirby Smart got $850,000 in bonuses after claiming the national title which pushed his total compensation to $10.253 million.

Both Smart and Saban signed new deals since then.

Of note, five of the 10 on-field Alabama coaches from the 2015 season made the top 12 on the USA Today ranking. That doesn’t include Mario Cristobal since his new employer, Miami, is a private school not subject to open records laws. However, The Athletic reported his salary was $8 million a year and that would put him into the top 10.

That group of five listed by USA Today includes Smart ($10.25 million), Mel Tucker ($9.56 million), Billy Napier ($7.27 million) and Lane Kiffin ($7.27 million).

Highest-paid college football coaches in 2022

1. Nick Saban $10.96 million
2. Dabo Swinney $10.54 million
3. Kirby Smart $10.25 million
4. Brian Kelly $9.81 million
5. Mel Tucker $9.56 million
6. Jimbo Fisher $9.00 million
7. Ryan Day $8.78 million
8. James Franklin $8.50 million
9. Jim Harbaugh $8.11 million
10. Mike Gundy $7.50 million

Source: USA Today.