Pete Golding drops unfiltered truth on ‘Ex’ Lane Kiffin, and NCAA tampering: ‘What have we created?’

TAMPA, FL – Pete Golding took the stage at SEC Media Days on Wednesday and was clearly ready to give his opinions on the current state of college football, as well as the obvious questions about Lane Kiffin.

If you know Ole Miss’ head coach, none of this should come as a surprise, given his lack of filter for life or anything else.

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Frankly, one of the main questions some in the room were prepared to question Golding with was his relationship with former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. But unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock for the last few months, his feelings for his former boss are pretty well known.

Yes, they’re still friends, but that doesn’t mean they agree on everything, including Kiffin leaving LSU. And yes, they continue to communicate seemingly on a daily basis, but Golding remains unresponsive for a few days if he’s in the mood to mess around with Kiffin a bit.

But the story of next season’s matchup between Ole Miss and LSU in Oxford is more about each school’s players and fans. Of course, the Rams would love to beat each other on the field, but it’s not as if either is left in a difficult situation after the chaos of last December.

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“I see that everywhere we go…Lane and I are fine,” Golding said. “I didn’t know Coach Kiffin before I took the Ole Miss job. I think everyone assumes Alabama, Alabama (supporting roles) when Coach Kiffin is there. I didn’t come to Ole Miss because of Kiffin, I came to Ole Miss to raise three kids. Our relationship has grown over those three years.”

“I really appreciate how he treated me and my family and I learned a lot from him. I hold no ill will towards Coach Kiffin. He texts me regularly and we’ll talk about some things and we won’t talk about some things. He’s very competitive, just like I’m very competitive.”

Things went well for everyone, including Golding’s real estate deal

Although there was still a lot of frustration between the Ole Miss athletic department and Lane Kiffin, things appeared to be going just fine for Pete Golding.

Of course, I think he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight late in the 2025 season, right before the start of the playoffs. But Pete Golding was also determined to stay in Oxford, whether he was given the keys to Ole Miss or remaining as an assistant coach.

Golding actually purchased one of Lane Kiffin’s homes in the Oxford area within the past six months.

“There will always be a date, it’s the ex, right?” Golding joked. About kiffin.

Pete Golding of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks during a press conference following the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Ariz. Miami defeated Ole Miss 31-27. (Getty Images)

On Wednesday, as questions continued to be asked about the relationship between Kiffin and Golding, the Rebels coach had a different mindset on how some of the issues surrounding the conclusion of the 2025 regular season were resolved.

“I say this to a lot of people. I probably shouldn’t, but I don’t care: If you said in 2021 that you could look at 2025 and you’d be 11-1 and you’d be in the playoffs. If your coach was leaving, would you accept? Yes, you would. Everybody gained from this, that’s okay. Not every place is for everyone.”

“I would be the first person to say that I told him it would be stupid to leave, that I wanted him to stay. It was a selfish decision because I love being the DC that I am. He decided it was better for him and his family. We’re going to play him like every other SEC team. We’re going to spot the ball and play it.”

Pete Golding tired of discussing tampering with Clemson

When Dabo Swinney decided to lay waste to Ole Miss for allegedly tampering with LB Luke Fornelli, it opened a can of worms in which the Rebels head coach is now taking an interesting approach.

Pete Golding reveals he falsified receipts while also admitting Kiffin texted him too much

Officials at Oxford have notified the NCAA that they are prepared to introduce other programs for tampering if the organization decides to fine Ole Miss for talking to Luke Fornelli (for a week) while he was technically part of the Clemson football team.

As for how Pete Golding feels, the Rebels coach had a pretty sensible answer when asked about his thoughts on tampering.

Golding asked rhetorically, “You’re a reporter, aren’t you? Would you quit your job before interviewing for or being offered another job?” he asked. “That’s right, no one does. We have a portal you can enter with a ‘Do Not Contact’ tag. I will quit my paid job and say I need a new job, no one will call me for an interview.

“Like, what did we create? I mean, we created this by representing that it was their responsibility to get these players paid well. By design, that put a lot of people in bad positions.”

Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding reacts during the third quarter against Georgia during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2026 in New Orleans, Los Angeles. (Getty Images)

While I don’t think many people would argue with Pete Golding about the illogical things the NCAA has created, I have a hard time imagining Dabo Swinney would agree.

But in terms of acting like colleges are above standards when it comes to recruiting, the Ole Miss head coach saved the most sensible context for his rant for the end of his answer.

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“Let’s not pretend that college football recruiting is the most ethical thing to do in the last 100 years. What are we talking about?”

He’s not wrong. Let’s see how much the NCAA agrees.