The Auburn Tigers aren’t known for being one of the programs with huge athletic budgets like Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma State or any other number of big-time schools.

However, that doesn’t mean the budget is tight on The Plains. Still, you’d think that paying coach Gus Malzahn a buyout worth more than $30 million at the end of this season would be ridiculous after signing him to a $49-million extension this offseason.

That might be what the Tigers decide to do, though, especially if this year’s record of 4-3 gets any worse. Per Auburn insider Brandon Marcello, there’s “not much concern there” about raising the money for the massive buyout:

Fans are fed up with Malzahn after the Tigers lost at home to Tennessee on Saturday. If things get worse, it could get even uglier in Auburn.

We’ll have to see how the rest of the year plays out, but with games against Georgia and Alabama remaining (both on the road), it could be a long season on The Plains.