Lane Kiffin scored a contract twist straight out of a headline. His deal with LSU includes a jaw-dropping clause: he’ll get paid what he would have earned coaching Ole Miss in the upcoming CFP. Even though he’s gone, the cash follows the path he left behind, making Kiffin’s next move even more headline-worthy.

Despite Kiffin not leading the Rebels, the team didn’t miss a beat under Pete Golding, racing to a 14-0 lead over the Green Wave in the first quarter. Blowing out Tulane 41-10 in front of an excited crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Ole Miss’s first-round CFP win handed Kiffin a bonus from LSU.

“Despite not coaching the Rebels in the CFP, Lane Kiffin still benefits from their win against Tulane, according to a term sheet obtained by ESPN,” shared ESPN College Football.

As per the terms, Kiffin earned a $250,000 bonus from LSU for Ole Miss’s participation in the CFP quarterfinal. With more wins on the horizon, Kiffin will earn even more, as LSU will pay him the same CFP bonus he would have received had he stayed at Ole Miss.

The new LSU head coach signed a seven-year deal with the Tigers, earning $13 million a year. But the kicker is, he also pockets the CFP bonus this postseason. A first-round appearance nets $150,000, a quarterfinal run earns $250,000, and if Ole Miss wins the national championship, LSU will give Lane Kiffin a cool $1 million.

While Kiffin just turned a contract into a masterstroke, Ole Miss is next set to face Georgia in the CFP quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl. If they win that game, they’ll be one step closer to the national title, while Kiffin moves a step closer to cashing in handsomely. Regardless of the money, being a former head coach with a strong bond to the Rebels, he’ll definitely be cheering for Ole Miss to upset the Bulldogs on New Year’s.

LSU will issue him the CFP bonus checks within 30 days of Ole Miss’s season finale, according to the term sheet he signed with the Tigers. While Kiffin’s payday stays on track, he had hoped to steer the Rebels (11-1) through their first CFP appearance, but Ole Miss chose a clean break, promoting its DC to lead the team.

Although Kiffin missed out on leading the Rebels, his decision to take the head coaching job at a rival program is now paying off. Here’s a bold twist in Kiffin’s LSU deal: win a national title, and he becomes the nation’s highest-paid coach. The escalator kicks in only once during his LSU tenure, right on the day the Tigers hoist the trophy, and Kiffin’s contract makes sure everyone knows it.

Although the new LSU head coach made it clear that choosing the Tigers wasn’t just about the money, the buyout still tells an interesting story.

Lane Kiffin’s contract with LSU has benefits

Lane Kiffin’s LSU contract reads like a blueprint for security and big rewards. Bonuses sweeten the pot even more. While winning the SEC title game nets him $1 million, the CFP bonus structure starts at $750,000 for a first-round appearance and climbs all the way to $3 million for a national title.

LSU also covers up to $500,000 of the difference between his Mississippi home ($2.89 million) and a new primary residence in Baton Rouge. Then, if he’s fired without cause during his seven-year term, he’s owed 80% of his remaining salary, with no offsets or reductions. Moreover, this deal makes sure Kiffin stays protected, no matter which way the winds blow.

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Should he leave for another head coaching job, the buyout starts at $7 million, dropping to $6 million in January 2027. Despite all of it, Kiffin insisted he chose LSU not for the money, but for the program’s impressive history.

“When you take the history, tradition, passion and the great players in the state of Louisiana, no one can argue that when you’re in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night, there is nothing like it,” said the LSU coach. “This place is built for championships with championship expectations; we understand that, but as an elite competitor, that’s exactly what you want, and that’s why we’re here.”

Whatever the reason for leaving Ole Miss, it’s clear his mission is to win a national title. And if he does, a handsome payday will automatically come his way under the deal.