The Tigers coach is still raking in money.
Lane Kiffin receives $500,000 bonus with Ole Miss heading to CFP semifinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lane Kiffin keeps getting paid by Ole Miss — even after leaving Oxford.
With Ole Miss’ 39-34 win over Georgia in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl, Lane Kiffin earned a $500,000 bonus tied to his former contract with the Rebels, according to terms previously outlined in his deal. The payout comes despite Kiffin no longer coaching the team after his high-profile departure for LSU on Nov. 30.
Per the structure of Kiffin’s Ole Miss contract, postseason bonuses were triggered by College Football Playoff advancement. Those incentives were absorbed by LSU as part of Kiffin’s exit agreement.
Kiffin had already earned $150,000 when the Ole Miss Rebels secured a spot in the 12-team CFP field. That figure increased to $250,000 following a first-round victory over Tulane. The Sugar Bowl win over the Georgia Bulldogs pushed the total to $500,000 after the Rebels advanced to the semifinals.
The bonus escalators remain in place. If Ole Miss reaches the national championship game, Kiffin’s total bonus would climb to $750,000. A national title would raise it to $1 million. Ironically, Kiffin was not on the sideline for the Sugar Bowl victory. He was spending the evening watching LSU women’s basketball.
Pete Golding, who took over as Ole Miss’ full-time head coach following Kiffin’s exit, guided the Rebels through the quarterfinal win and is eligible to receive the same bonuses directly from the school based on postseason results.
Kiffin’s departure triggered significant coaching-carousel movement across college football in November, with several vacancies filling rapidly after his decision became official.
Ole Miss will face the Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. A semifinal matchup that could push Kiffin’s bonus total to $750,000 — without him ever calling a play.
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Category: General Sports
