LUS Coach Lane Kiffin Receives $250K Bonus After Ole Miss’ Playoff Victory

LSU’s new football coach Lane Kiffin has many reasons to watch his former school, the University of Mississippi, participate in the College Football Playoff – and they go beyond congratulating his former players and teammates.

The term sheet that Kiffin, 50, signed with LSU when he was hired in November states that the university will pay him bonuses equal to those he would have received from the Rebels if he was still coaching in the 2025 College Football Playoff. CBS Sports reported on Saturday, December 20.

Kiffin has earned $150,000 with Ole Miss participating in the playoffs and an additional $250,000, thanks to Ole Miss’ 41-10 victory over Tulane University on Saturday, December 20 in the first round.

“Congratulations to all the @OleMissFB coaches and players especially @CoachGolding and seeing his two boys on the sideline 💙❤️,” Kiffin wrote via X after the win. “Great win today. #1-0. #BeatGeorgiaInTheBoot 🇹🇹”

The sixth-seeded Rebels will face No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day for a spot in the semifinals. If Ole Miss wins that game, Kiffin will get another $500,000. An appearance in the National Championship game will net him an additional $750,000, followed by a $1 million bonus if the Rebels win the title.

Current Ole Miss coach, Pete Goldingwho took over the team after Kiffin’s departure, will receive the same bonuses from the Rebels, according to. Front office sports.

Excluding bonuses, Kiffin will make an estimated $13 million a year as the head coach of the LSU Tigers after agreeing to a seven-year, $91 million contract. If Kiffin is fired without cause before the end of the contract, the university will owe him 80% of what is left on the contract.

While Kiffin watched the playoffs from home, he insisted that was not by design. After accepting the LSU job, he released a statement saying he hopes to coach the Rebels through the postseason before moving on to Baton Rouge.

“I had hoped to end a six-season run with this year’s team by leading Ole Miss to the playoffs, using the team’s incredible success and commitment to finish strong, and putting everything into a playoff run that would begin to protect the program from any concerns,” Kiffin wrote in a Nov. 30 statement. “My request to do so was denied by [athletic director] Keith Carter despite the fact that the team also asked him to let me continue to train them so that they can maintain a high level of play.”

He added, “While I look forward to a fresh start with this unique opportunity at LSU, I will forever cherish the incredible six years I spent at Ole Miss and will focus on the team to finish its mission and bring a championship to Oxford.”

Several of Kiffin’s former players have disputed his claim that they want him to continue coaching until the end.

“‘Unless the team asks me to continue coaching,'” Ole Miss offensive lineman Brycen Sanders wrote about X two days later. “I think everyone in that room would have disagreed.”

“Know it‼️ Every single person‼️,” the lineman Jayden Williams he added, citing Sanders’ post..