Mike Elko earns a base salary of $10.75 million in 2026 at Texas A&M on a six year contract worth $69 million in base pay that runs through the 2031 season. Texas A&M announced the deal on Nov. 15, 2025, hours after the Aggies came back to beat South Carolina and stay unbeaten, and it replaced the $7 million a year contract he signed when he was hired to replace Jimbo Fisher. His base pay rises $300,000 every year.
| 2026 base salary | $10.75 million, rising $300,000 a year to $12.25 million in year six |
| Total base pay | $69 million over six years, before incentives |
| If A&M fires him | 100 percent of remaining base salary through the third to last contract year, plus 85 percent of the final two years. Elko must pursue another coaching job to offset it |
| If he leaves | $12 million early in the deal, stepping down each year |
| Automatic extension | One more year added if A&M wins nine or more regular season games or makes the College Football Playoff |
| Previous deal | $7 million base with up to $3.8 million a year in incentives |
How It Compares
| Coach | School | 2026 pay |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $11.05 million |
| Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $10.75 million |
| Eli Drinkwitz | Missouri | $10.25 million |
Contract terms are from the agreement obtained through open records by The Eagle and the school’s announcement. The full national list is on our college football coaching salaries page.
The Bottom Line
Mike Elko makes $10.75 million in base salary in 2026 on a six year, $69 million Texas A&M contract through 2031, rising to $12.25 million. The buyout is close to fully guaranteed but includes an offset, and a nine win season or playoff trip adds a year automatically. Follow the Aggies on the Texas A&M football schedule and Texas A&M score today.