Lane Kiffin walked away from Ole Miss at a moment no one expected. He left the roster he built, a program he lifted into national contention, and a team positioned for a College Football Playoff run. His exit for LSU stunned players, fans, and much of the college football world.
But even after leaving Oxford, Kiffin still has a direct stake in how far the Rebels go. Ole Miss posted one of the strongest seasons in program history. They controlled games, won the rivalry showdown, and finished as one of the most complete teams in the country.
The path ahead includes legitimate national title potential, and the Rebels enter the postseason as one of the most dangerous groups in the bracket. That run now carries unexpected financial consequences.
LSU agreed to honor the postseason bonuses tied to Kiffin’s Ole Miss contract. The structure means he remains financially attached to a playoff push he will no longer coach. If Ole Miss wins big, he earns big.
The situation is unusual. The head coach who left the program now stands to benefit from the victories that follow without being on the sideline. For LSU, it was part of the price required to secure him.
For Kiffin, it turns the postseason into a rare scenario where both his past and future benefit him simultaneously. To put this in perspective, if Ole Miss plays in the first round, Kiffin would make $150k.
NEW: LSU has agreed to pay Lane Kiffin his Ole Miss postseason bonuses, @whalexander_ reports.
Kiffin could make up to $1M if the Rebels win a national title without him🤯https://t.co/WNHgCs48b5 https://t.co/V6NaBe3CcL pic.twitter.com/QnQWkbV1U3
— On3 (@On3sports) December 1, 2025
The ceiling for him in this scenario is that Kiffin could make up to $1 million if the Rebels manage to win the national championship. His deal with the LSU is worth $91 million over the next seven years. The work that he had put in with the Rebels, Kiffin is going to be rewarded for that, even when he’s no longer there.
Lane Kiffin Didn’t Want to Leave Before Playoffs
Kiffin made it clear in his farewell message that he never planned to step away before the postseason. He described a desire to finish the year with the current roster and complete a six-season arc that pushed Ole Miss to its highest level in decades, in his statement.
He wanted to lead the team into the playoff run, keep continuity intact, and put safeguards in place to protect the program during the transition.
“I was hoping to complete a historic six season run with this year’s team by leading Ole Miss through the playoffs,” Kiffin said in his statement. “My request to do so was denied by Keith Carter despite the team also asking him to allow me to keep coaching them so they could better maintain their high level of performance.”
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) November 30, 2025
Despite the abrupt ending, he expressed gratitude for the years in Oxford and support for the team’s push toward a championship. And with LSU carrying his postseason bonuses forward, he now watches Ole Miss’ playoff run from a distance.
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