Decision Day

Lane Kiffin's Controversial Move to LSU

Photo from Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

College football head coach, Lane Kiffin, made a controversial move to Louisiana State University (LSU) after leaving the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Lane Kiffin has had a history of moving teams after only coaching a couple years, making him one of the most controversial coaches in college football.

Lane Kiffin’s first coaching job was with the National Football League (NFL) team, the Las Vegas Raiders. He only stayed from 2008 to 2009 before getting fired and went to coach college football at the University of Tennessee. 

He only stayed at Tennessee for one year, and fans were enraged and wrote vulgar messages on campus as well as other protests. Kiffin moved to the University of Southern California (USC) in 2010. After getting fired before an away game on the tarmac before stepping on the plane in 2013, he was hired at Florida Atlantic, and later moved to Ole Miss in 2020. He has now signed a 7-year contract with LSU for 91 million dollars. 

“All but one offensive assistant wanted to leave for either Florida or LSU.” ESPN writer Mark Schlabach said. “Which historically had enjoyed more success than Ole Miss but had fired their coaches after their teams struggled this season.”

Kiffin faced a hard decision when determining the next step in his career. With offers from LSU, Florida, Florida State and Ole Miss, Kiffin had many options. Ole Miss has had one of the best seasons in history, ranking number 7 in the country and making this year's college football playoffs. 

Lane Kiffin has found much success as coach of Ole Miss, but LSU has more resources and money when it comes to name, image and likeness (NIL) and better facilities. NIL will help attract more plays through bigger paychecks and brand deals. One example of this is quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s deals with Cheez-Its from LSU's appearance in the Citrus Bowl, Signature Ride, Bayou Traditions and Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys. His NIL valuation was nearing $1,000,000 before ever being the full-time starter for the Tigers.

“Lane Kiffen would have stayed for the college football playoffs (CFP) if Ole Miss let him,” freshman Brett Lee said. “The tricky thing is that LSU has a historically better program and more money that he got driven there. I think it’s good that he sent his offensive coordinator back for the CFP, but I generally think that without the massive paycheck, he wouldn’t have left.”

After his decision, Ole Miss made it into the CFP and Ole Miss officials decided it was a conflict of interest for Kiffin to continue to coach his former team in the post-season. Due to the fact the transfer portal is opening and Kiffin moved to a rival school, defensive coordinator Pete Golding was named head coach for Ole Miss and coach in the CFP.

“By that point, many Ole Miss fans were fed up with the drama,” an Ole Miss booster told ESPN. “He'd already informed the athletic department that if Kiffin returned, he wouldn't continue contributing money to the program.”

With angered fans, players and donors, Ole Miss is ready to get back on their feet in the college football playoffs. By moving to another college football team, and Ole Miss rivals, Kiffin will be matched up against his ex-team when LSU plays Ole Miss in the 2026 season. Because Kiffin moved during one of Ole Miss’s best seasons, Ole Miss fans have the LSU game marked on their calendars.

Lane Kiffin has made a lot of new fans at LSU and a lot more enemies at Ole Miss. With the end of the 2025 season approaching, Kiffin is ready to turn the LSU program back to their former glory. Meanwhile, Ole Miss is preparing to bring their phenomenal season into 2026.