The coaching carousel in Manhattan is officially spinning, and for a brief moment, the idea of Brad Underwood coming home picked up just enough steam to make it interesting.
After Jerome Tang was fired at Kansas State, speculation immediately turned to big names with ties to the program. Underwood, now the head coach at Illinois, fits that description. A former Wildcat player with deep familiarity in Manhattan, he checks the sentimental boxes.
But as quickly as the chatter started, it cooled off.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 addressed the possibility on social media, making it clear that Illinois fans should not panic.
“Not that I even need to tweet this, but don’t worry, Illinois fans. Brad Underwood isn’t going to Kansas State.”
That is about as direct as it gets.
The financial reality backs up Goodman’s stance. Underwood’s buyout at Illinois would reportedly be around $15.3 million if he left for Kansas State. If he were to jump to another Big Ten job, that number would double. Either way, it is a massive check to write before you even discuss salary, staff retention, or program resources.
Then there is the Kansas State side of the ledger.
Depending on how the “for cause” designation with Tang ultimately plays out, the Wildcats could owe anywhere from zero to roughly $18.7 million. Even if that figure lands on the lower end, it is still a significant financial commitment layered on top of any potential buyout owed to Illinois.
Stacking buyouts is not impossible, but it is rarely practical.
Underwood has stability, success, and institutional support in Champaign. Kansas State has an opening and emotional ties. Those two things do not automatically equal movement, especially when tens of millions of dollars are involved.
It made for an intriguing headline for a few days. In reality, the math and the messaging both point in the same direction.
The Wildcats will likely look elsewhere.
