Lane Kiffin Takes Over as LSU Head Coach But Won’t Finish Season at Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin is stepping in as the new head coach of the LSU Tigers. Interestingly, he won’t be completing the 2025 season with the Ole Miss Rebels, even though it looks like he’s on track for a potential College Football Playoff slot.

Under his new contract with the Tigers, Kiffin seems to have some financial incentives tied to the Rebels’ possible chance at a national title. Reports indicate that LSU will match a bonus he was due at Ole Miss if the Rebels make it to the CFP. Should Ole Miss secure a place in the first round of the playoffs, Kiffin is set to receive $150,000 from Ole Miss.

Additionally, Kiffin could earn up to $250,000 if his team reaches the quarterfinals, $500,000 for the semifinals, and an impressive $750,000 if they make it to the national championship. If Ole Miss has a shot at winning that title, Kiffin would get $1 million.

Having decided to take the helms at LSU for next season, Kiffin expressed his intention to remain with the Rebels through the playoffs. However, he pointed to Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, saying Carter denied his request to finish the season. Kiffin stated, “We struggled a lot last night with Keith Carter trying to figure out a way to make this playoff run and be able to coach this team. It was his decision, and I completely respect that.” He added that he wishes the team well, expressing a desire to coach them despite the circumstances.

Before making his decision, Kiffin consulted coaching legends like Pete Carroll and Nick Saban. He reflected, “My heart was here. But… especially when Coach Carroll said, ‘Dad’s going to tell you to go. Take your shot.’” Looking back, he mentioned regrets about how he left his first coaching stint at the University of Tennessee, emphasizing his pride in the historic wins at Ole Miss. In his mind, his decision to move to LSU felt like a necessary step—”a new chapter.”

In terms of succession, Pete Golding, currently the defensive coordinator, has been named as Kiffin’s replacement at Ole Miss.

As for his new role, details are surfacing about Kiffin’s contract at LSU. He is reported to earn $13 million each season, positioning him as the second-highest paid college coach in the country, right after Kirby Smart from Georgia. Interestingly, if Kiffin leads LSU to a national title, his contract could escalate him to the highest-paid coach status.