Fired coaches who are still on the payroll

There's no question that Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas are seven of college football's heavyweights.

Collectively, they've combined to win 26 national championships, and 21 of their players have hoisted the Heisman Trophy.

Together, they're also known for a more dubious number: $51.35 million.

That's how much money the aforementioned FBS programs have paid their former coaches to buy out the remainder of their contracts, and each of them will carry dead money into the coming season.

Buyout information for former USC coach Lane Kiffin is unknown because USC is a private school and is not required to make contract information public. According to the Los Angeles Times, Kiffin earned about $3.4 million in total compensation in fiscal 2013-14 before his departure from USC, based off tax returns.

Here's a look at some of the more notable contract buyouts in recent college football history:

$18.9 million

(estimated)

Charlie Weis

Former school: Notre Dame

Date of firing: Nov. 30, 2009

Agent: Bob LaMonte

Estimated remaining buyout: Two annual payments of $2,054,744

Note: The Fighting Irish have already paid Weis more than $14.8 million not to coach, including an initial payment of about $6.6 million.

$7.9 million

Bo Pelini

Former school: Nebraska

Date of firing: Nov. 30, 2014

Agent: Neil Cornrich

Estimated remaining buyout: 46 monthly payments of $132,176

Note: FCS program Youngstown State will pay Pelini $213,894 to coach its team this year; Nebraska will pay him $1.59 million not to coach the Cornhuskers.

$7.5 million

Gene Chizik

Former school: Auburn

Date of firing: Nov. 25, 2012

Agent: Russ Campbell

Estimated remaining buyout: Eight monthly payments of $200,000

Note: The Tigers paid more than $12.5 million in buyouts for the past two head coaches they ran off -- Chizik and Tommy Tuberville ($5.083 million).

$6.3 million

Will Muschamp

Former school: Florida

Date of firing: Nov. 16, 2014

Agent: Jimmy Sexton

Estimated remaining buyout: Two annual payments of $2.1 million

Note: Muschamp will be paid $2.1 million from Florida and $1.6 million as Auburn's defensive coordinator. His $3.7 million salary would have been more than what all but 12 Power 5 head coaches were paid last year.

$5.625 million

Charlie Weis

Former school: Kansas

Date of firing: Sept. 28, 2014

Agent: Bob LaMonte

Estimated remaining buyout: 19 monthly payments of $200,893

Note: Weis earned about $2.1 million for each of his six victories at Kansas -- including wins over South Dakota, South Dakota State and Southeast Missouri State.

$5.5 million

Jeff Tedford

Former school: California

Date of firing: Nov. 20, 2012

Agent: Tim Younger

Estimated remaining buyout: Seven monthly payments of $198,000

Note: Cal's buyout to Tedford would have been reduced only if he'd accepted another coaching job that paid more than $1.5 million annually.

$5 million

Derek Dooley

Former school: Tennessee

Date of firing: Nov. 18, 2012

Agent: Sexton

Estimated remaining buyout: 18 monthly payments of $104,167

Note: With the buyout alone, the Volunteers paid an average of $1.25 million for their four SEC victories during his three-year tenure.

$3 million

Brady Hoke

Former school: Michigan

Date of firing: Dec. 2, 2014

Agent: Trace Armstrong

Estimated remaining buyout: 19 monthly payments of $125,000

Note: Including his buyout and the $1 million paid to San Diego State to buy out his contract there, the Wolverines paid Hoke more than $15 million to coach four seasons.

$2.75 million

Mack Brown

Former school: Texas

Date of resignation: Dec. 14, 2013

Agent: Joe Jamail

Estimated remaining buyout: Three annual payments of $687,500

Note: Brown also received a one-year job as special assistant to UT president Bill Powers with a $500,000 salary.

$2.5 million

Skip Holtz

Former school: South Florida

Date of firing: Dec. 2, 2012

Agent: Himself

Estimated remaining buyout: Three annual payments of $500,000

Note:The Bulls gave Holtz a three-year extension in July 2012 -- then fired him about five months later, costing the school an additional $1.5 million in the buyout.

$2.1 million

Ellis Johnson

Former school: Southern Miss

Date of firing: Nov. 27, 2012

Agent: Richard Davis

Estimated remaining buyout: One annual payment of $333,000

Note: According to Deadspin.com, Southern Miss sold its 2013 home opener against Nebraska (moving it to Lincoln) for $2.1 million -- the same amount the Golden Eagles owed Johnson for firing him.