Lane Kiffin’s speculation concluded on Sunday as he confirmed his recommendation of Ole Miss to LSU.
He shared this update publicly through social media.
The announcement was anticipated on Saturday, but extended discussions with Ole Miss officials led to a lack of consensus regarding Kiffin’s future plans. It appears he had verbally committed to becoming LSU’s coach last week, and Ole Miss officials seemed to have some awareness of this. Kiffin’s intent was to remain with the Rebels and guide them through the playoffs.
However, Ole Miss officials didn’t see this as a straightforward situation. They harbored concerns that he might use this time to attract recruits for LSU, which, while good for him, wouldn’t benefit his current team in Oxford during the playoff run.
The unresolved issues from that meeting postponed the announcement, as Kiffin was allegedly working behind the scenes to gather an offensive staff for LSU to help in his recruiting efforts. After all, one can’t overlook the importance of securing a position.
According to reports from On3, Kiffin informed the offensive coaching group that if he wasn’t on a plane bound for Baton Rouge on Sunday, they’d likely lose their jobs as well.
Kiffin has spent six seasons as the head coach for the Rebels, finishing with a 55-19 record, climbing into the top 15 rankings three times, and securing double-digit wins in four seasons. He led Ole Miss to two New Year’s Six bowls and even claimed victory in the 2023 Peach Bowl, with the Rebels having an impressive 11-1 season and set to make their initial College Football Playoff appearance.
Now, it’s uncertain how the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee will react to Ole Miss.
With Kiffin leaving, along with several key offensive staff members, the committee might downgrade Ole Miss from the top eight, which would force them to play on the road in the opening playoff week. Alternatively, there’s a less likely scenario where they could completely exclude Ole Miss if they felt the absence of Kiffin and his team would significantly weaken the Rebels.
There is indeed a history of such decisions.
Breitbart Sports noted that “Florida State was removed from the CFP in 2023 even while holding an undefeated record after star quarterback Jordan Travis injured his leg.” The committee reasoned that the Seminoles wouldn’t perform as well without him. Similarly, with Kiffin’s leadership and the recruitment of offensive coaches, the committee might arrive at a comparable conclusion this time.
In the meantime, On3 indicated that Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding will take charge of the Rebels in the College Football Playoff (CFP).
On3’s reports also suggest that Kiffin’s contract with LSU will secure him at least $13 million annually.
