How Much Money Could Lane Kiffin Get on New Contract After Drinkwitz's Missouri Deal?

Lane Kiffin's agent might be sending Missouri a thank you note this holiday season.

The Tigers announced on Thanksgiving Day they agreed to a new contract with head coach Eliah Drinkwitz that's worth $10.75 million in annual compensation.

This is another data point Jimmy Sexton, who represents Kiffin, will use when he secures Kiffin's next deal, be that an extension with Ole Miss or a pact with another school.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said he expects a final decision from the coach by Saturday, a day after the Rebels play Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl.

Florida and LSU have both made strong pursuits, which only give Kiffin and Sexton additional leverage.

Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported on Nov. 21 the Tigers have considered tabling a seven-year contract worth at least $90 million. On top of that, he'd have more than $25 million in NIL and revenue-sharing funds to use on improving the roster.

Chris Low, Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos of On3 added that Ole Miss and Florida are also prepared to give Kiffin as much as $13 million or even $14 million annually.

Coming into the season, Georgia's Kirby Smart was the highest-paid coach in FBS at $13.3 million, per USA Today. Ohio State's Ryan Day was next on the list at $12.6 million.

Few would argue Kiffin is a better coach than Smart or Day, and he hasn't matched their on-field accolades. Still, that doesn't matter in a market as inefficient as the one for college football coaches.

Kiffin is by far the hottest name on the coaching carousel after Indiana's Curt Cignetti and SMU's Rhett Lashlee removed themselves from the picture by penning extensions. Poaching Drinkwitz from Missouri is off the table now as well.

With a dearth of strong candidates on the board, those with a proven track record are in a more advantageous position.

All signs point to Kiffin overtaking Smart in terms of their contracts. The question is how high he sets the new bar.