Lane Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss for LSU, Making Historic Move on Eve of CFP Appearance
BATON ROUGE, La. – Lane Kiffin has accepted the head coaching position at LSU, officially leaving Ole Miss on the cusp of a College Football Playoff berth, sources confirmed Wednesday. The move is unprecedented in modern college football, as Kiffin departs a program with a greater than 99 percent chance of making the playoff, according to The Athletic’s projections.
LSU formally terminated Brian Kelly without cause earlier Wednesday, paving the way for the pursuit of Kiffin. New LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry, a former Tigers linebacker and longtime administrator, indicated the school woudl conduct a extensive search. The Athletic reported LSU offered Kiffin a seven-year, $100 million deal.
Kiffin’s departure concludes weeks of speculation surrounding his future. He amassed a 55-19 record over six seasons at Ole Miss, including a program-record 11 regular-season wins this year. His overall collegiate coaching record stands at 117-53,encompassing tenures at Tennessee,USC,and Florida Atlantic.
Throughout the season, Kiffin’s high-powered offenses and success made him a prime target for programs with coaching vacancies. His family reportedly visited both Baton Rouge and Gainesville, Florida, fueling speculation. While Florida initially appeared to be a strong contender due to Kiffin’s family ties to the state – his late father, Monte Kiffin, had a long career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – the University of Florida shifted its focus to other candidates last week.
ole Miss officials attempted to retain Kiffin with a new contract that would have positioned him among the highest-paid coaches in college football. Athletic director Keith Carter announced an proclamation regarding Kiffin’s future would be made the day after the Egg Bowl.
Following Friday’s game,Kiffin acknowledged the complexity of the decision-making process. “I’m not trying to get pity, but (a decision like this is) not as enjoyable as maybe some people think,” he said.
The situation mirrors, but surpasses, the circumstances surrounding Kelly’s departure from Notre Dame for LSU in late 2021, when the Irish were a long shot for playoff contention. LSU had struggled since winning the national championship under Ed Orgeron in 2019, firing Orgeron and later hiring kelly, who went 24-10 before being terminated. The program seeks to return to national prominence, having won three national titles since 2003.
