After nearly two years of back and forth, Billy Napier's time as the Florida head coach has finally come to an end. Now, the UF program has to look forward, and the first step is finances.

Napier's buyout is just over $21 million, according to the USA Today database of college football coaching contracts. Half of that contract must be paid within 30 days of termination, with the rest being paid out in annual installments now through 2029.

USA Today also reports that Napier has no obligation to mitigate, and UF would not be able to offset any of the payments from his future income. The result is that all $21 million is getting shelled out over the next four years, no matter what Napier does with his time.

For a frame of reference, former head coach Dan Mullen's buyout at UF was for $12 million when he was fired ahead of Napier's hiring. 

Unfortunately for UF and its Athletic Director Scott Stricklin, forking over tens of millions of dollars is the price of college football in 2025. It won't even be the last time they do it this year, assuming Napier's replacement gets a contract close to $10 million annually. That's not even considering what it will cost to buy out a sitting head coach from his current contract.

After all of that, the Gators will still need to be able to fund their NIL war chest to keep their best players and attract new talent for the incoming coaching staff. The $21 million committed to firing Napier is enough to fund two years of NIL football deals, or an entire calendar year of payouts to eligible UF athletes in all major sports.

College football has never been more profitable, thanks to massive TV and licensing contracts. Competing at the highest level of the game, however, has also never been more expensive.

Penn State just spent $50 million to fire James Franklin mid-season - a coach who had the Nittany Lions in the semifinals of the playoffs just last season. Speculation is swirling that UF rival Florida State could let go of struggling head coach Mike Norvell. That would cost them around $54 million.

The most expensive buyout in college football history is the $77 million Texas A&M owed Jimbo Fisher when he was fired in 2023. It may be a lot of money, but the result as of today is that the Aggies are 7-0, No. 3 in the country, top of the SEC pecking order, and a near lock to make the 2025 playoff, just two years removed from Fisher's firing.

The most expensive buyouts in college football history, according to Sporting News:

1. Fisher, $77 million

2. Franklin, $50 million

3. Gus Malzahn, $21.5 million (Auburn)

4. Napier, $21 million

5. Charlie Weis, $19 million (Notre Dame)

Related Gators Stories:

HE'S GONE: After years of speculation and disappointment, Napier is out at UF. This is everything you need to know. READ MORE

HOT BOARD: Here are 10 potential candidates for UF to replace Napier as it attempts to return to national relevance. READ MORE

THE SCHEDULE AHEAD: The gauntlet at a glance. The Gators' remaining schedule includes three teams in the AP Top 25. READ MORE