Report: Mel Tucker, Michigan State Working on 10-year, $95m Contract Amid LSU Buzz

Mel Tucker's success with Michigan State in 2021 has put him in a prime position to potentially get a lucrative raise. 

Per Chris Solari and David Jesse of the Detroit Free Press, Michigan State is preparing a 10-year, $95 million contract extension for the 49-year-old. 

This comes after ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported last month that Tucker was considered a candidate to replace Ed Orgeron as LSU's head coach.

Tucker, who was a defensive backs coach on Nick Saban's staff at LSU in 2000, has brushed aside any questions about the Tigers rumors. 

"My focus is on the upcoming game against the school down the road," Tucker told reporters on Oct. 25. "That's where my concentration and my focus is, and I really appreciate you understanding that."

Solari and Jesse noted the extension will make Tucker the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten with an average annual salary of $9.5 million. 

Per Asher Low of Badgers Wire, Ohio State's Ryan Day is currently the highest-paid head coach in the conference with a $6,614,693 salary in 2021. 

Tucker got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant with Michigan State in 1997 when Saban was with the program. He bounced around between college and the NFL, including a five-game stint as interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011. 

After going 5-7 in his lone season with the Buffaloes, Tucker resigned in order to take the same job at Michigan State. He has led the Spartans to a 9-1 record this season. They are No. 7 in the College Football Playoff rankings heading into Saturday's marquee matchup with Ohio State.