2025 College Football Playoff and Bowl Season Buzz: Lane Kiffin Cashes In on Ole Miss Victory

As the 2025-26 college football postseason unfolds on December 22, 2025, the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff has delivered drama, upsets, and unexpected financial windfalls. The first round concluded over the weekend of December 19-20, propelling eight teams into the New Year’s quarterfinals while non-playoff bowl games are gearing up for their holiday slate. At the center of the buzz is former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who—despite bolting for LSU just weeks ago—pocketed a hefty bonus from the Rebels’ playoff success.

Ole Miss Advances in Playoff Debut, Sets Up SEC Rematch

No. 6 seed Ole Miss (12-1) made program history with a dominant 41-10 victory over No. 11 Tulane in the first round at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. The win marked the Rebels’ first-ever College Football Playoff victory and extended their school-record win total. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss starred, throwing for 282 yards and a touchdown while rushing for two scores. Running back Kewan Lacy added 87 yards and a touchdown before a shoulder injury limited him in the second half.

The game was a rematch of a regular-season blowout (Ole Miss won 45-10 in September), and the Rebels again controlled proceedings, scoring on multiple early drives and holding Tulane to minimal offensive output. New head coach Pete Golding—promoted from defensive coordinator after Kiffin’s departure—earned his first win in a shining debut, improving to 1-0 in playoff games.

Ole Miss now advances to the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal on January 1, 2026, against No. 3 Georgia (with a bye as a top-four seed). This sets up another rematch: Georgia rallied from a late deficit to beat Ole Miss 43-35 in October, the Rebels’ only regular-season loss. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, fresh off an SEC Championship, will host the game in New Orleans—a familiar venue where they suffered a quarterfinal upset last year.

The Rebels’ performance quelled concerns about transition turmoil following Kiffin’s exit. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. (now headed to LSU with Kiffin) called plays effectively, and the defense stifled Tulane’s attack.

Lane Kiffin’s Unusual Bonus: $250,000 from LSU for Ole Miss Win

The biggest off-field story? Lane Kiffin, now LSU’s head coach earning a reported $13 million annually, received a $250,000 bonus courtesy of the Tigers—tied directly to Ole Miss’ playoff advancement.

When Kiffin abruptly left Ole Miss for LSU in early December (just after the Rebels secured their playoff berth), his new contract included a unique clause: LSU agreed to honor the postseason bonus structure from his old Ole Miss deal. This means Kiffin gets paid for milestones his former team achieves.

• First-round participation/playoff win: Triggers escalating bonuses starting around $150,000-$250,000 (sources vary slightly, but consensus is $250,000 for advancing to quarterfinals).
• Semifinals: Up to $500,000.
• National championship appearance: $750,000.
• National title win: $1 million.

LSU foots the bill, not Ole Miss. The clause ensures Kiffin doesn’t lose out on incentives he earned recruiting and building the 2025 roster. Critics call it bizarre; fans in Oxford see it as salt in the wound after Kiffin’s timing drew ire.

Kiffin congratulated Ole Miss publicly post-win, but the bonus has fueled memes and debates about loyalty in the NIL/transfer portal era. Meanwhile, Golding gets identical bonuses paid by Ole Miss.

If the Rebels upset Georgia and keep rolling, Kiffin could earn up to $1 million without coaching a down—while prepping LSU for 2026.

Full 2025-26 CFP First-Round Recap and Quarterfinal Outlook

The first round featured campus-site games, with mixed results for higher seeds:

• No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24 (road win; first in 12-team era history).
• No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 (defensive slugfest; another road upset).
• No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10.
• No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34.

Top-four seeds with byes: No. 1 Indiana (undefeated Big Ten champs), No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Texas Tech.

Quarterfinal matchups (New Year’s Six bowls):

• Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31): No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami.
• Rose Bowl (Jan. 1): No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama.
• Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1): No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss.
• Orange Bowl (Jan. 1 or nearby): No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon.

Buzz abounds: Can road warriors Alabama and Miami pull more upsets? Will Group of Five teams (Tulane, JMU) continue struggling in playoffs? And how will coachless transitions (like Ole Miss) fare deeper in?

Non-Playoff Bowl Buzz and Early Results

While the CFP steals headlines, 40+ other bowls provide chaos and storylines. Early games (starting Dec. 13) included upsets and blowouts:

• Some non-CFP SEC teams like Texas or others landed in NY6 at-larges, but focus shifts to mid-tier matchups.
• Notable: Notre Dame declined a bowl invite after CFP snub—rare move sparking debate.
• Upcoming highlights: Citrus Bowl (Michigan vs. Texas?), ReliaQuest (Vanderbilt vs. Iowa), Gator Bowl projections involving ACC/SEC ties.

Coaching carousel impacts bowls too—interim coaches, opt-outs, and transfers galore. Expect high-scoring affairs as stars chase NFL tape or portals.

Broader Bowl Season Storylines

1. Coaching Changes Galore: Kiffin’s move headlines, but others (e.g., potential mic’d up interims) add intrigue.
2. Rematches Everywhere: CFP has two (Ole Miss-Tulane, others); bowls feature rivalries.
3. G5 vs. P4 Disparity: Tulane/JMU blowouts continue trend of Group of Five struggles in big spots.
4. Heisman Hopefuls Shining: Young QBs like Chambliss, Oregon’s Dante Moore building 2026 buzz.
5. Future Implications: 2026 schedules already out—Kiffin returns to Oxford early with LSU.

The postseason is just heating up. Ole Miss-Georgia looms as a potential classic, with revenge, history, and bonus money on the line. As bowls kick into full gear through January 19’s national championship in Miami, college football’s silly season delivers endless entertainment.