The college football world has seen its fair share of wild postseason twists, but few have sparked the kind of buzz that followed Ole Miss’ win over Tulane - and not just because the Rebels punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The real headline? Lane Kiffin, who left Ole Miss earlier this year to take over at LSU, is cashing in on a hefty bonus thanks to his former team’s success.
Here’s the deal: Ole Miss’ playoff berth triggered a $250,000 bonus for Kiffin, part of an incentive package baked into his previous contract in Oxford. And if the Rebels go the distance and win the national title?
That number could jump to a cool $1 million. That’s right - Kiffin is no longer coaching the team, but he’s still in line for a seven-figure payday if they win it all.
It’s an unusual situation, to say the least. Pete Golding, now the head coach at Ole Miss, is the one calling the shots on the sideline, guiding the Rebels through this postseason run. But it’s Kiffin who’s reaping the financial rewards, thanks to a contract that was structured to reward success - regardless of whether he was still in town when it happened.
Naturally, the college football community had thoughts. Social media lit up once the news made the rounds, with fans and analysts alike chiming in on the bizarre twist.
Some couldn’t help but tip their cap to Kiffin’s savvy timing. One fan summed it up with a simple, “Bro just wins…” Another called him “the face of sports in 2025.
No question!”
Others weren’t quite as impressed. “That should be nullified since he LEFT!”
one user wrote. Another compared the situation to “the cheating ex-wife” still getting the house.
And then there were those who just leaned into the absurdity of it all: “So why not let him coach if he’s still getting paid?”
Still, there’s no denying that Kiffin played a major role in building the team that’s now making noise in the postseason. Whether you see the bonus as well-earned or just a quirk of contractual fine print, the fact remains - Lane Kiffin might be coaching in Baton Rouge now, but he’s still cashing checks from Oxford.
And as the Rebels continue their playoff push under Golding, Kiffin’s name is never far from the conversation. It’s a reminder that in college football, success isn’t just measured in wins - sometimes, it’s measured in commas on a paycheck.