LSU Announces Lane Kiffin Contract Details, Including Unique Ole Miss Playoff Bonus
Louisiana State University has finalized a seven-year contract wiht head football coach Lane Kiffin, running through 2032, with an annual salary of $13 million. This surpasses the $10.1 million earned by his predecessor,Brian Kelly. The terms,released Monday,also include a meaningful buyout clause and an unprecedented bonus structure.
If Kiffin is fired without cause, LSU will owe him 80 percent of his remaining salary, with no requirement for him to seek offsetting employment. This figure reaches $62.4 million starting after the 2026 season. Kelly’s recently triggered $54 million buyout included a mitigation clause requiring him to actively search for another coaching position to reduce the payout.
The contract addresses concerns previously voiced by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry,who in late October criticized the financial liabilities of Kelly’s contract,stating,”Right now,we’ve got a $53 million liability. We are not doing that again.” Landry also publicly stated a desire for a “patently different contract” for the next coach.
A unique clause in Kiffin’s agreement stipulates that LSU will pay him any College Football Playoff bonuses he would have earned at Ole Miss this season.this includes $150,000 for an appearance and up to $1 million for winning the national championship. Should new Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding lead the team on a successful playoff run, Kiffin will receive the associated bonus from LSU.
additionally, Kiffin’s contract includes an escalator clause guaranteeing him the highest coach salary in the sport should he win a national championship at LSU, a bonus he is eligible to receive only once.
The buyout for Kiffin to leave LSU for another job begins at $7 million through December 31, 2026, and decreases by at least $1 million in subsequent years.
