‘It’s a Circus With Lane (Kiffin)’ — Joel Klatt Reveals How LSU HC Is ‘Meeting Expectations’ Despite Outside Noise
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Lane Kiffin’s first season at LSU has already produced plenty of headlines. From transfer portal drama to injury reports and his constant presence on social media, the Tigers have rarely been far away from the spotlight.
But despite all the noise surrounding Kiffin, Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt believes LSU is right where it needs to be.
The Tigers are 4-1 after their latest game, a dominant 63-14 win over McNeese State. For Klatt, LSU’s early results suggest the Kiffin hire is paying off after the Tigers had a disappointing 7-6 record overall and went 3-5 in SEC play last season.
Joel Klatt Says LSU Is ‘Kind of Where They Need To Be’
Kiffin left Ole Miss in December 2025 after agreeing to a seven-year, $91 million contract with LSU. His arrival immediately brought plenty of attention, and that has continued throughout the season.
He also tried to bring former NFL players into his program, leading to legal battles and criticism across the SEC. He also sparked plenty of discussion by listing quarterback Sam Leavitt, who has an 82.1 Impact Rating in PFN’s metrics, as doubtful before the Ole Miss game. Leavitt missed Wednesday’s practice with an injury before returning Thursday and eventually being cleared to play.
Kiffin returned to Oxford on September 19 to take on his former team. LSU mounted a comeback but ultimately lost 32-24 to the Rebels.
Kiffin later drew criticism after suggesting Ole Miss repeatedly played stadium music through the snap in violation of SEC rules.
Still, Klatt believes the distractions are part of the package that comes with hiring Kiffin. “When you deal with all of the crap that comes with Lane Kiffin and the attention that he gets, and he’s trying to sign NFL players. He’s got quarterbacks on the injury report. It’s a circus with Lane,” Klatt said on The Joel Klatt Show.
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Klatt said LSU’s main goal is to get back among the SEC’s top teams and make the College Football Playoff. He believes the Tigers’ strong start shows they are heading in the right direction.
“We said during the summer that if they could get through those first four games as a three and one, and that would include a win over Clemson and A&M,” Klatt said.
While Klatt admitted that Clemson and Texas A&M may not be as strong as initially expected, he believes LSU’s defense has given the Tigers a legitimate foundation.
“They’re kind of where they need to be at this point,” Klatt added.
LSU still has plenty to prove, but its 4-1 record and defensive strength have given Kiffin a solid foundation.
The noise surrounding the Tigers is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. But as Klatt pointed out, LSU appears to be getting the results it expected when it decided to bring Kiffin and his circus to Baton Rouge.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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