Lane Kiffin is set to receive a payout of $500,000 from LSU following the conclusion of Ole Miss' journey in the College Football Playoff. The Rebels faced a tough battle and ultimately lost to Miami in a nail-biting finish during the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.
This loss means that within 30 days after Ole Miss’ postseason run wraps up, Kiffin will officially be paid $500,000. This amount was stipulated in his contractual agreement with Ole Miss, and LSU has committed to honoring this clause as part of Kiffin's contract with them. Notably, Kiffin's deal includes “ancillary benefits” that were negotiated after he left Ole Miss for LSU.
The amount of money Kiffin is set to receive from LSU increased as Ole Miss progressed through the College Football Playoff bracket. The contract outlines a tiered payment structure based on how far the team advanced. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Participation in the first round: $150,000
- Quarterfinal appearance: $250,000
- Semifinal appearance: $500,000
- National championship appearance: $750,000
- Winning the national championship: $1 million
With the Rebels' season concluding at the semifinal stage, Kiffin is entitled to the $500,000 payout. Had Ole Miss won and advanced to the championship game, that figure would have escalated to $750,000.
According to Kiffin’s contract with LSU, it states, "Coach will be entitled to receive a payment equal to what he would have earned had he continued as Head Coach at his previous employer, coaching their football team through the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. If applicable, this payment may come from affiliated foundation funds and must be issued within 30 days after the previous employer's team is eliminated from the 2025-26 CFP."
In the thrilling Fiesta Bowl semifinal, Ole Miss was trailing Miami 17-13 at halftime but made a notable effort to turn the game around in the fourth quarter. They capitalized on several mistakes made by the Hurricanes and managed to take their first lead of the game, 19-17, with just seven minutes remaining on the clock.
However, Miami quickly retaliated with a touchdown from Malachi Toney. The Rebels fought back valiantly, and after a crucial pass interference penalty extended their drive, Trinidad Chambliss connected with Dae’Quan Wright for a touchdown and successfully converted a two-point attempt, putting Ole Miss ahead 27-24 with only 3:13 left to play.
Nevertheless, Miami wasn’t about to give up easily. With just 18 seconds left on the clock, Carson Beck rushed for a go-ahead touchdown, bringing the score to 31-27 in favor of the Hurricanes, leaving Ole Miss with one last chance. Sadly for the Rebels, Chambliss’ final Hail Mary attempt fell short, sealing the victory for Miami and propelling the Hurricanes into the national title game.
Interestingly, Miami won't have to travel far for their championship showdown, as the game is set to take place at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19. The Hurricanes are now awaiting the outcome of the matchup between Oregon and Indiana to discover who they will face in the title game.
