NC State’s Dave Doeren is off to the worst start of his tenure at 1-2 overall this season, a record that stings even more after one of the most bizarre finishes in college football history just last week. That awful start has everyone in Raleigh looking at the details of his massive contract, and boy, are those details eye-popping.
The Game That Went Sideways
Seriously, you’ve got to see this Week 3 game against the Vanderbilt Commodores. NC State had the win in the bag, right? Six seconds left, and the plan was simple: take an intentional safety to seal the victory. Easy peasy, clock runs out, everyone goes home happy. Except that’s not what happened. NC State QB CJ Bailey rolled out, tried to dance around and kill the clock, but ended up getting stripped in the end zone. Fumble recovery for a Vanderbilt touchdown. Just like that, a huge non-conference win slipped right through their fingers. It’s a tough look, especially when you consider Doeren’s record against non-conference Power Four opponents is now 0-5. This comes after a 6-7 season in 2024, which included a bad loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl, although they did end the 2025 season with a solid 31-7 win over Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl.
The Contract That Keeps on Giving
Doeren is clearly a high-value guy, sitting among the top 40 highest-paid coaches in college football. He inked a five-year, $28.1 million deal before the 2024 season. For 2026, his total compensation is $6.375 million before any bonuses kick in. But here’s where it gets wild: if the school decides to fire him without cause before January 1, 2027, he’s set to receive more than $9.75 million. That’s $3.25 million per year through the rest of his contract, and get this, his initial buyout from that 2024 extension was $15.7 million. The kicker? That buyout doesn’t decrease if he stays in Raleigh.
The contract is loaded with incentives too, from $50,000 for eight wins all the way up to $250,000 for twelve wins. An ACC Championship appearance gets him $100,000, and winning it nets $200,000. Playoff bonuses are even bigger, with $100,000 for a first-round appearance and a massive $500,000 for a CFP National Championship win. On top of that, he gets things like two courtesy cars, 20 home football tickets, six men’s basketball tickets, and a country club membership. NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said when Doeren signed his deal that “Dave has built a program that is centered on culture and player development , on and off the field.” Given the bizarre start and the massive contract, the pressure is on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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