Ole Miss announced that former head coach Lane Kiffin earned a $500,000 bonus following the Rebels’ 39-34 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia Thursday night, despite leaving Oxford for LSU on Nov. 30.
The payout comes from incentives built into Kiffin’s original Ole Miss contract that were tied to College Football Playoff advancement. LSU absorbed these bonus obligations as part of the exit agreement when they hired Kiffin.
Kiffin wasn’t on the sideline for the Sugar Bowl win. He was watching LSU women’s basketball instead.
The bonus structure started when Ole Miss secured a spot in the 12-team CFP field, earning Kiffin $150,000. That figure jumped to $250,000 after the Rebels beat Tulane in the first round. Thursday’s quarterfinal victory over the Bulldogs pushed the total to $500,000.
More money could be coming. If Ole Miss reaches the national championship game, Kiffin’s bonus climbs to $750,000. A national title would bring the total to $1 million.
Pete Golding took over as Ole Miss’ full-time head coach after Kiffin’s departure and guided the team through the Sugar Bowl victory. Golding is eligible to receive the same bonus structure directly from the school based on postseason results.
Kiffin’s move to LSU triggered significant movement across college football’s coaching carousel in November. Several high-profile vacancies filled rapidly after his decision became official.
Ole Miss faces Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. A semifinal matchup that could push Kiffin’s bonus total to $750,000 without him calling a single play for the Rebels in the playoffs.
