Mike Elko buyout: How much Texas A&M would have to pay to fire football coach

The hangover from the College Football Playoff continues for Texas A&M. In one of the biggest freefalls of college football this season, the Aggies' dreaded 2026 continues. Despite keeping it close, they were unable to pull off a Week 11 home upset against Tennessee, losing 22-7 for their third stra

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What is the story about?

The hangover from the College Football Playoff continues for Texas A&M.

In one of the biggest freefalls of college football this season, the Aggies' dreaded 2026 continues. Despite keeping it close, they were unable to pull off a Week 11 home upset against Tennessee, losing 22-7 for their third straight loss after leading 7-6 at halftime.

Texas A&M is now 4-6 on the season, with a 1-6 SEC record that puts it at the bottom of the conference. It is also one loss away from being eliminated from bowl eligibility, which would be the first time a CFP-team failed to make the postseason the following season since TCU in 2023.

The hopes of finishing the season with at

least six wins doesn't look that great either, as the Aggies finish the season with old foes at Oklahoma and Texas in the regular season finale.

The unraveling continues as coach Mike Elko has gone from savior of Aggieland to, now, the scapegoat of Texas A&M's downfall just in his third season with the program. The offense has now failed to score at least 10 points in four of the past seven games, resulting in the 12th man wondering if it needs a reset.

If Texas A&M wishes to get in on the coaching carousel, here's what the buyout numbers are for Elko.

Mike Elko buyout

Should Texas A&M decide to fire Elko, it would have to fork out one of the largest buyouts in the sport's history.

If Texas A&M were to fire Elko on Dec. 1, 2026, he would be owed $56.4 million, according to the terms of his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports. That would be one of the largest buyouts in college football, and it's something that Texas A&M is familiar with. When it fired Jimbo Fisher in 2023, it owed him a record-$77 million buyout, which still remains the largest ever.

Elko's would be the second highest.

Mike Elko contract, salary details

Elko has a base salary of $10.75 million in 2026, according to his contract.

He originally signed a six-year contract through Jan. 31, 2032, worth $69 million, and he received an automatic extension following the end of last season for making the CFP in 2025.