Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz latest college football coach to get raise to stay put

The secret to getting a contract extension and raise in college football?

Have your name linked to the Penn State opening.

First it was Indiana's Pennsylvania-raised Curt Cignetti getting a new deal. Then it was Nebraska's Penn State alum Matt Rhule striking a new pact to stay in Lincoln.

On Thanksgiving, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz was the latest coach linked to the Nittany Lions job to get a new contract to stay put. On Thursday, the Tigers coach posted on X, "My family and I are thankful to be ⁦Mizzou. The support from our President, the Board of Curators, AD, boosters and fans is special! Why Stop Now!!!"

Drinkwitz's new contract runs through 2031 on a $10.75 million average annual deal, per Calum McAndrew of the Columbia Daily Tribune, part of USA TODAY Co.

The 2023 SEC Coach of the Year, Drinkwitz is in his sixth season at Missouri after one year at Appalachian State. At Mizzou, Drinkwitz has a 45-28 record and will lead the Tigers to a fifth straight bowl game this season.

Missouri is 7-4 this season and reached as high as No. 14 in the polls this year before injury to starting QB Beau Pribula and the rigors of SEC play took its toll.

Missouri finishes the regular season 3:30 p.m., Saturday at Arkansas.

Meanwhile, Penn State players are openly campaigning for interim coach Terry Smith to get the job full-time, and Penn State's fired coach James Franklin has already landed on his feet at Virginia Tech.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri agree to new contract to take coach off market