On Tuesday the Georgia Athletics Board announced it approved a contract extension for Smart making him “the highest paid coach in college football” after increasing his salary to $13 million a year. It will keep Smart with the Bulldogs two additional years through 2033.

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“I want to thank President (Jere W.) Morehead, Josh Brooks and the Board of Directors for extending my contract at the University of Georgia,” Smart stated in a release. “I continue to be grateful and humbled by our administration’s commitment to our football program. The current culture in collegiate athletics is everchanging and as challenging as it has ever been, so I truly appreciate the leadership that our team is continually provided. I have an immense pride for representing my alma mater and look forward to that relationship continuing for many years to come.”

According to a release, Smart will receive “an average increase of $1.75 million annually,” and “his maximum amount of bonuses per year will go from $1.3 million to $1.55 million” based on the new 12-team College Football Playoff format.

According to Chris Low of ESPN, Smart’s extension is part of a 10-year, $130 million contract. Smart’s salary increases from $10.75 million.

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Smart now holds the title of top paid coach in college football, and he just might be considered the most decorated coach in the sport.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired this offseason, meaning Smart is the Southeastern Conference’s winningest coach with a 94-16 record. Smart led Georgia to back-to-back CFP National Championships in 2021-22, becoming the first team to do so since the Crimson Tide in 2011-12.

Smart and the Bulldogs just missed returning to the CFP last season for a chance at a three-peat defending their national titles. They went 13-1 in 2023 falling to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and sliding to No. 6 in the CFP rankings before beating No. 5 Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl.

Smart’s senior class last year departed the program with a 50-4 career record, which set a new school record.

READ: Entire UAB football team signs up for Athletes.org

The Georgia Athletics Board also announced it approved a one-year extension for Brooks, the school’s athletics director. Morehead stated Brooks “has done a terrific job” and “positioned UGA Athletics to thrive in a rapidly changing college sports landscape.”

Brooks will see his salary increase to $1,275,000, and he’ll remain at Georgia through 2030 according to a release.

“I am extremely grateful for the trust placed in me by President Morehead and the UGA Athletic Association Board of Directors,” Brooks stated in a release. “Serving in this role and working alongside our outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff is truly the privilege of a lifetime. I also want to thank President Morehead and the Board of Directors for Coach Smart’s well-deserved contract extension. His success in the first eight years leading our football program is unmatched, and his generosity and leadership as part of our university community has made a lasting impact.”

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The NCAA reversed course and ruled the North Carolina wide receiver immediately eligible for this season after “important information” was provided that wasn’t previously, according to NCAA President Charlie Baker and Division I Board of Directors chair Jere Morehead stated via Pete Thamel of ESPN. 

“I’m so excited and thankful that the NCAA has granted my eligibility to play this season,” Walker stated in a release. “This hasn’t been easy, but I’m looking forward to putting this in the past and moving forward. I always knew UNC was a special place, but it’s proved it over and over again throughout the last few months.”

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The NCAA originally ruled Walker ineligible for the season on Aug. 8, and North Carolina appealed the ruling. 

Walker was then denied eligibility again Sept. 7 after the subsequent appeals. 

“It is unfortunate that UNC failed to provide this important information previously,” Baker and Morehead stated. “While we must be careful not to compromise a student-athlete’s right to privacy when it comes to sensitive issues, we want to assure the Division I membership and everyone watching how the new transfer rules are applied, that this meets the new transfer waiver standards. UNC’s behavior and decision to wage a public relations campaign is inappropriate and outside the bounds of the process UNC’s own staff supported. Had the UNC staff not behaved in this fashion and submitted this information weeks ago, this entire unfortunate episode could have been avoided.” 

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown and athletics director Bubba Cunningham released strong statements in response to Walker’s additional denied appeals for eligibility in early September. 

Cunningham released a statement Thursday in response to Walker’s immediate eligibility ruling. 

“We are happy that Tez Walker is now eligible to play and enjoy doing what he loves to do,” Cunningham stated in a release. “However, the justification provided by the NCAA today is not accurate. The University submitted all necessary information and documentation as it was made available to us at the time and we still believe Tez met all standards for the waiver in early August. It is not clear why the NCAA delayed making the correct decision then, but we are pleased to get to the appropriate resolution now.” 

READ: Reports: UCF extends Malzahn through 2027 season

North Carolina chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz also issued a statement after Walker was rule immediately eligible. 

“We are elated at the resolution for Tez walker and for all who supported him here at UNC-Chapel Hill,” Guskiewicz stated. “We know that he has been throguh a lot as we pursued numerous appeals with the NCAA. UNC provided all available information at every step of the process. I want to thank everyone at Carolina who worked in support of Tez. In our stated effort to exhaust all avenues, new information about this matter came to our attention and we immediately gathered and submitted it for consideration. The NCAA reached the right decision that restores Tez’s experience as a student-athlete and a Tar Heels. 

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