Mississippi State fans have turned on Jeff Lebby after four straight SEC losses, but just how expensive would firing him be? His contract structure and buyout make any quick decision financially painful for the university, but let’s take a look at Jeff Lebby’s contract, buyout, and salary.
Jeff Lebby Contract
Jeff Lebby’s agreement with Mississippi State is split into two parts: a four-year state contract and a separate deal with the Bulldog Club, the university’s athletic foundation.
The state portion covers the maximum term allowed under Mississippi law, while the Bulldog Club contract extends one year beyond it and provides most of his total compensation.
- State contract: Runs through the 2027 season. Covers the base salary portion funded by the university.
- Bulldog Club agreement: A private funding deal through January 31, 2029, paying the majority of Lebby’s total earnings each year. It also contains its own buyout terms and bonuses, matching the state contract’s provisions.
- Combined term: Effectively five years total when including the Bulldog Club extension.
- Total contract value: Approximately $22.25 million.
- Average annual pay: About $4.5 million per season.
- Payment breakdown: The Bulldog Club covers roughly 80% of Lebby’s total pay; the state contract handles the rest.
This hybrid structure lets Mississippi State stay within state employment limits while privately funding a competitive SEC-level salary. It’s the same model used for previous football coaches like Mike Leach and Joe Moorhead.
Jeff Lebby Salary
From 2025 onward, his salary increases modestly each season. The Bulldog Club covers most of the total.
- 2025: $4.35 million
- 2026: $4.45 million
- 2027: $4.55 million
- 2028: $4.65 million
Performance Incentives
- SEC Coach of the Year: $50,000
- National Coach of the Year: $100,000
- SEC wins: $125,000 per win starting with the fifth SEC victory
- SEC Championship appearance: $100,000
- SEC Championship win: additional $150,000 (total $250,000)
- Lower-tier bowl: $100,000
- Mid-tier bowl: $150,000
- Citrus Bowl: $200,000
- College Football Playoff appearance: $250,000
- National Championship win: $1,000,000
Jeff Lebby Buyout
If Mississippi State fires Lebby without cause, the university and Bulldog Club owe him 75% of his remaining guaranteed compensation. At the end of 2024, that figure was roughly $14.26 million. The buyout drops each season as the contract runs down.
- End of 2025 season: $10.95 million
- End of 2026 season: $7.35 million
- End of 2027 season: $3.75 million
- End of 2028 season: $0 (contract expires January 2029)
If Lebby leaves for another job, he owes $6.2 million to Mississippi State plus an additional $1.5 million if he takes an SEC job. His Bulldog Club repayment portion decreases by $1 million each remaining year.
Will Mississippi State Fire Jeff Lebby?
Firing Lebby is possible if fan unrest keeps growing and conference results don’t improve. The buyout after the 2025 season still exceeds $10 million, but patience could thin if SEC losses keep piling up.
Lebby was hired for his offensive background, yet the Bulldogs remain winless in conference play under him. If results don’t shift soon, Mississippi State’s boosters could decide the declining buyout makes parting ways more manageable by 2025.
