LSU's $90 million contract poaching Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss has Kirby Smart-level cash

The nightmare that kept Ole Miss fans on pins and needles in the last few weeks is finally coming to life as LSU's almost final contract for Lane Kiffin.

The Tigers made the final push to lure Kiffin away from the Rebels with a hefty $90 million contract on Friday night, just days after giving the Kiffin family a private tour of Baton Rouge.

LSU ready to offer $13 million per year

While other specifics are awaited, On3 reported it to be a $13 million per year contract.

Georgia's Kirby Smart, the highest paid head coach in college football makes about $13.2 million annually. Catch the drift?

LSU is ready to go all in with Kiffin, possibly making him the highest-paid coach in college football if it means him replacing Brian Kelly.

Even if they don't match Smart's highest-paid $13,282,580 per year contract, $13 million annually will still make Kiffin the second-highest-paid coach in college football because the current second-highest-paid coach is Ohio State's Ryan Day at $12,575,000.

But here's the real kicker: even Smart doesn't think it would be a good idea for Kiffin to leave a team where he is so close to having it all.

“Be where your feet are, which I think he is," Smart said earlier this month on The Paul Finebaum Show when asked about the Kiffin rumors.

"He’s got a really good team, and they got a chance to do something really special. And it’s so hard. As coaches, everybody talks about how hard it is to win now, and you don’t know when you’re going to have that opportunity again."

Kiffin had also admitted "I have never made a decision based on money nor will I," but LSU's NIL could be the factor that helps them poach Kiffin.

Jumping to conclusions would be hasty until Kiffin comes out clean with his decision, but his dragging the silence this long gives the Rebel Nation more substance to draw their own dark conclusions.