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The buyout money in college football is ridiculous these days, with athletic departments securing high-profile head coaches with gaudy release fees. It is a hedge from these programs to try and ward off poaching by big-money programs who would come in and scoop up a rising head coach.
The list compiled by USA TODAY shows just how important it is for athletic departments to secure their head coaches with big buyouts.
And the Big Ten, with some of the most high-profile teams and head coaches in the nation, is leading the way in buyouts. Two Big Ten head coaches are in the top five with the highest buyouts. In addition, six programs are in the top 20 on the list (with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz just outside at No. 21).
Click to see how the Big Ten football head coaches rank in terms of their buyouts.