It was a situation that seemed destined for trouble from the start.
Before Lane Kiffin made the headlines with his unexpected shift from Ole Miss to LSU, he was also pursued by Florida State. However, initial discussions with their athletic director, Scott Stricklin, reportedly “didn’t work out,” according to a CBS Sports report released on Monday.
At that time, Florida State was seen as the most prestigious job available and had some say in the terms, like wanting to hire a general manager from the NFL who wouldn’t report directly to Kiffin. The report shared insights into Kiffin’s take on the negotiations.
Kiffin’s journey didn’t kick off smoothly. He had confidence in Ole Miss general manager Billy Glascock, but the early stages of his potential move felt strangely awkward.
Kiffin has long been interested in a coaching position at Florida. His ties to the university run deep; his ex-wife Leila is a Gators alum, and her father, who played as quarterback, was well-known in Florida’s football history. Additionally, Kiffin has been known to honor former Florida State coach Steve Spurrier by sporting a visor.
Stricklin, noted for his serious demeanor, began considering Kiffin even before letting go of Billy Napier on October 19. He felt somewhat at ease with Kiffin after hearing evaluations from the coaching staff regarding his maturity. However, there was an underlying tension—the mutual awareness that Kiffin wasn’t Stricklin’s top choice, and vice versa.
Kiffin, who has been at the helm of the Rebels since 2020, enjoyed considerable authority at Ole Miss, leading to worries about potential personality clashes.
Reports mentioned that Ole Miss had granted Kiffin significant freedom in Oxford and provided him with increasing resources to enhance the program. This left Kiffin concerned about interference from Stricklin and how they would work together. He shared with friends that he had a “weird vibe” about the whole situation.
Meanwhile, LSU faced its own turmoil with the firing of Brian Kelly on October 26, which led to a whirlwind of coaching rumors ahead of the weekend’s developments.
On Friday, Florida officially withdrew its interest in Kiffin, turning instead to Tulane’s John Sumrall, a decision finalized on Sunday. The Gators are also eyeing former Jaguars GM David Caldwell for the role.
As for Kiffin, his dramatic exit to Baton Rouge followed a few days after the Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State, marking his last game with the Rebels.
In a heartfelt statement shared on X, Kiffin expressed, “After much prayer and time with my family, I’ve made the difficult choice to accept the head coaching position at LSU. While I’m excited for this fresh start, I will always cherish the six wonderful years I spent at Ole Miss and strive to help the team achieve its championship goals.”
Former defensive coordinator Pete Golding has been elevated to the head coach position to succeed Kiffin.
Reports indicate that Kiffin is slated to earn approximately $91 million over seven years at LSU, with additional performance bonuses tied to the contract.
