The college football world was shaken after Lane Kiffin’s decision to leave the Ole Miss Rebels at a crucial point in the season to become the new head coach of the LSU Tigers ahead of what’s to come.
Finding the ideal successor to Brian Kelly at LSU was no easy task—not just from a football standpoint, but also considering the financial commitment that hiring someone of this caliber would entail.
According to a report from Wilson Alexander for NOLA.com, the agreement between Kiffin and LSU is for seven years, totaling $91 million. This means the coach will earn roughly $13 million annually.
In addition, the reporter also noted that if Lane Kiffin wins a national title, the contract includes an automatic escalator, making him the highest-paid coach in the country. Undoubtedly, it wasn’t just the on-field challenge that tempted the HC to take the job, but also the financial incentives.
Head coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin’s Ole Miss contract
When Lane Kiffin was introduced as the head football coach at Ole Miss in 2019, he initially signed a four-year contract valued at $16.2 million, starting with a salary of $3.9 million in 2020.
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Following a successful season that culminated in an Outback Bowl victory, Kiffin was rewarded with a significant one-year extension. This new deal boosted his guaranteed base pay to $21 million through the 2024 season, increasing his annual salary to $4.5 million in 2021 and exceeding $5 million for each of the subsequent three years.
In October 2025, Sam Hutchens of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger reported that the Rebels’ 34-26 win over Oklahoma triggered an automatic contract extension for Kiffin for reaching seven regular season wins, extending his contract through 2031, with the added year reportedly worth $9 million with $7.2 million guaranteed. However, the interest from LSU ended Kiffin’s stay in Oxford way sooner.
