Clemson coach Dabo Swinney took over the top spot in the annual coaches' salary database, published by USA Today on Tuesday.
Swinney made $9.3 million in total pay, surpassing Alabama's Nick Saban at $8.85 million. Swinney agreed to a 10-year, $93 million contract extension in April, after winning his second national title in three years.
Saban topped the list last year, when he signed an eight-year, $74.4 million extension to coach through the 2025 season.
Michigan's Jim Harbaugh is third on the 2019 list at $7.504 million, followed by Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher at $7.