Lane Kiffin makes coaching decision after years with Ole Miss
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Lane Kiffin drama ended Sunday when the Ole Miss Rebels head football coach announced he would be leaving the school to take the LSU Tigers’ job.
Kiffin got the win against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl rivalry game on Friday afternoon. He said he had a lot of prayers to do before making the decision, which was initially expected to be made on Saturday. However, Kiffin reportedly met with athletic director Keith Carter and school president Glenn Boyce throughout the night.
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin during a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
According to multiple reports, he met with the team in the afternoon before the decision was officially announced. He will not coach the team in the College Football Playoff.
“After much prayer and time with my family, I have made the difficult decision to accept the head coaching position at LSU,” Kiffin said in a statement.
“I was hoping to complete a historic six-season run with this year’s team by leading Ole Miss to the playoffs, capitalizing on the team’s incredible success and determination to finish strong, and betting everything on a playoff run with guardrails in place to protect the program in areas of concern. Although the team also wanted me to continue coaching them so they could better maintain their high level of performance, my request to do so was denied by Keith Carter. Unfortunately, this means Friday’s Egg Bowl is the end of me coaching the Rebels game that does.
“As I look forward to a fresh start with a unique opportunity at LSU, I will forever cherish the incredible six years I spent at Ole Miss and will remain firmly rooted for the team to complete its mission and bring a championship to Oxford.”
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding is reportedly expected to be named Ole Miss’ head coach.
Kiffin has become college football’s hottest coaching target, with many job openings available. He has ties to jobs at LSU and Florida. The Tigers parted ways with Brian Kelly and the Gators moved on from Billy Napier midway through the year. Both openings are held at schools that are considered the gold standard when it comes to sports.
ARKANSAS HIRING RYAN SILVERFIELD FROM MEMPHIS AS NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: REPORT
Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin watches during warm-ups before the game against the Florida Gators on Nov. 15, 2025 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. (Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)
But Kiffin has transformed the Rebels into a college football national championship contender this year. Ole Miss’ 11 wins this season are the most in school history, and the Rebels did it twice under Kiffin.
Kiffin takes over the Ole Miss program, which was 4-8 in Matt Luke’s final season. He had at least 10 wins at Ole Miss in four of his six years at the helm.
Kiffin had already faced criticism for leaving places on a whim in the past, particularly for taking the USC job in 2010 after just one season at Tennessee.
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin reacts to an official’s call during the second half of the NCAA college football game against Mississippi State on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Starkville, Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
With the Rebels likely clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff, it’s hard to fathom Kiffin leaving the school he helped rebuild to become a powerhouse.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on X and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
