Nobody’s going to be surprised if Clemson University agrees that Dabo Swinney’s $3.3 million salary this season was a bargain given the market for top coaches.

So it’s likely, regardless of the outcome of Monday’s national championship game, he’ll receive a raise that could make him one of the highest paid coaches in college football.

How much? It’s reasonable to speculate a new agreement could lift Swinney to among the 10 highest paid coaches in the game with a salary in the neighborhood of at least $5 million.

There are indications this week that conversation has begun, but nobody would speak on the record.

In the second year of a contract that runs through 2021, Swinney was already scheduled for a bump to $3.45 million. By winning the ACC Championship his annual salary automatically moves to $3.5 million for the duration.

By reaching the College Football Playoffs National Championship game on Monday night in Glendale, Ariz., Swinney was assured $950,000 in performance bonuses.

Winning would be worth another $100,000, a modest figure compared to $400,000 for appearing in each of the two playoff games. That would make his total compensation $4.5 million for 2015-16.

A survey published annually by USA Today placed Swinney at No. 26. Nick Saban is the nation’s highest paid coach at nearly $7 million annually. The top 10 includes Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops and Les Miles, coaches whose teams Clemson has beaten.

Hugh Freeze of Ole Miss, No. 10 on the list, received a raise this week from $4.3 million to nearly $5 million, moving him to No. 8 behind Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M. Jim Harbaugh, Jimbo Fisher and Charlie Strong are all above $5 million.

Steve Spurrier made $4 million in his final year at South Carolina (all of it even after he quit). New coach Will Muschamp will receive $3 million in his first season.

Concern Monday’s game could serve as audition for Alabama’s next coach could be quashed if Swinney agreed to an extension with a big increase.  Saban reportedly declined an overture from the Indianapolis Colts saying he wasn’t interested in leaving Alabama, so he’s not done yet. And Swinney’s buyout through 2016 is $5 million. It drops to $3 million in 2017.

If Clemson is sincerely concerned over keeping him, Swinney would need an offer reflecting his value to the institution.