The Auburn Tigers announced Sunday that Gus Malzahn has been fired in a somewhat surprising move following Saturday’s 24-10 win over Mississippi State.

Everyone knew Malzahn’s seat was getting warm, and with a loss to Mississippi State, it seemed inevitable. However, the Tigers won Saturday, but Auburn’s athletic director Allen Green made the change anyway.

“After evaluating the state of the Auburn football program, we’ve decided that it was time to make a change in leadership,” Green announced in a statement Sunday. “We appreciate everything that Gus did for the program over the last eight seasons. We will begin a search immediately for a coach that can help the Auburn program consistently compete at the highest level.”

Malzahn just finished his third year into his seven-year, $49 million contract. He made around $6.9 million this season alone.

So, now, attention turns to Malzahn’s buyout. The former Auburn head coach’s buyout, as of December 1, is set at $21,450,000, according to AL.com. That’s 75 percent of the money remaining on his contract at the end of the season, and it’s the 12th largest buyout in the nation.

That’s a hefty price to pay, especially in a year where COVID-19 has hammered college athletics. However, it’s a move Auburn was okay with by firing Malzahn.