Lane Kiffin decision to spurn Ole Miss for LSU proved college football's most contentious move of the 2025 season. In many ways, he's still paying for it. The 50-year-old was barred from leading the Rebels out onto the field during the College Football Playoff, while the goodwill he accrued across six seasons in Oxford seemingly dissipated overnight.
Nevertheless, it still behooves Kiffin to keep tabs on his former players' performances during the CFP. Ole Miss' 41-10 victory over Tulane in the first round of the tournament proved a boon for Kiffin, who netted a nice bit of change as a result of it.
With that, here's what you need to know about the unique clause in Kiffin's contract with the Tigers that sees him take home a decent-sized check the further the Rebels advance in the CFP.
MORE: How Pete Golding, Ole Miss got past Tulane to set up date with Georgia in Sugar Bowl
Why did Lane Kiffin get a bonus for Ole Miss' win over Tulane?
Fortunately for Kiffin, contracts don't have feelings. While Ole Miss' administrators were peeved with his antics towards the end of his Rebels career, his contract came equipped with a clause that would see him earn up to $1 million depending on Ole Miss' performance in the CFP.
By agreeing to join LSU, Kiffin's contract with the Rebels was deemed null and void. However, the Tigers included an identical clause in his deal. The further Ole Miss advances in postseason play, the more money Kiffin will be paid.
Kiffin already collected $150,000 after the Rebels were named in the CFP bracket. He'll fetch an additional $100,000 after the Rebels clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. If Ole Miss were to defeat all comers and hoist its first national championship since 1962, Kiffin's payday would rise to $1 million.
MORE: Latest injury news on Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy
Kiffin will be owed his CFP bonus payments within one month of the end of the Rebels' final game of the season, per ESPN. It's not the only unique clause in Kiffin's LSU deal, either. He'll also become college football's highest-paid coach if the Tigers land a national championship at any point during his tenure. The escalator clause can only be activated one time across the term of his deal — the date that LSU wins a national title.
Kiffin was complimentary of Ole Miss and its head coach, Pete Golding, following its win over Tulane. The Tigers taskmaster took to X to express his delight with the Rebels' performance.
Congrats to all the coaches and players @OleMissFB and especially @CoachGolding and seeing his 2 boys on the sidelines 💙❤️ Great win today. #1-0. #BeatGeorgiaInTheBoot
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 21, 2025
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NEWS:
- SN's expert predictions for every CFP game
- Updated College Football Playoff bracket
- 10 best NFL Draft prospects in 2025 CFP field
- Meet the broadcast teams for 2025 CFP games
Lane Kiffin CFP bonus structure
Kiffin's CFP bonuses are structured as follows:
- Ole Miss clinches spot in CFP: $150,000
- Ole Miss advances to CFP quarterfinals: $100,000
- Ole Miss wins national championship: $750,000
Kiffin can make up to $1 million this postseason, depending on the nature of the Rebels' CFP results.
Lane Kiffin LSU contract details
- Years: Seven
- Value: $91 million
Kiffin will earn $13 million annually as head coach of the Tigers. As previously mentioned, there is room for that figure to grow — if LSU claims a national title, the Tigers vowed to bump Kiffin's contract to the top the highest-paid coaches' chart. There's also the possibility that LSU offers a similar CFP bonus clause (pertaining to the Tigers' postseason results), although it's currently unclear whether that's the case.
MORE: How Ole Miss' win vs. Tulane under Pete Golding compares to Lane Kiffin