Lane Kiffin predicted to pick LSU in shocking SEC change

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Lane Kiffin predicted to pick LSU in shocking SEC change

Lane Kiffin predicted to pick LSU in shocking SEC change originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Ole Miss is chasing a championship. It is also bracing for disruption.

The Rebels are one win away from history at No. 7 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings and enters rivalry week in striking distance of the program’s first national title under Lane Kiffin. 

But before the Playoff bracket is even set, coach could be taking his talents to another SEC program. 

As soon as Saturday, the Rebels are expected to learn whether the man who lifted them back to national relevance will trade playoff momentum in Oxford for a fresh rebuild in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or a talent-rich reboot in Gainesville, Florida. Both rivals have fired their coaches and made aggressive pushes to lure Kiffin away during the most chaotic coaching carousel cycle in years.

Kiffin’s Rebels face Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Friday, a game rich in tradition in the delta region. While Ole Miss players prepare for the field, there's bigger stakes happening in the boardroom. One that could reshape the SEC power structure and spark immediate transfer portal ripple effects across two programs.

LSU officials have discussed a seven-year, incentive-laced contract worth at least $90 million, according to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger. The potential deal is likely to climb near $100 million. Those figures would push Kiffin’s salary, now roughly $9 million annually, into the rarefied air of the sport’s highest-paid coaches. Florida and Ole Miss boosters are reportedly prepared to match or exceed competing offers to keep the play-caller in north Mississippi.

Where is Kiffin projected to land? 

As of now, LSU will be ready to welcome Kiffin into Death Valley as their next head coach, according to our own Bill Bender in his latest piece entitled "Lane Kiffin decision predictions: Projecting how SEC dominoes will fall after Ole Miss vs. LSU vs. Florida choice."

"It's like an episode of "The Bachelor," and we think Kiffin will choose the purple-and-gold rose," Bender wrote. "Three of LSU's last four coaches have won national championships – including (Nick) Saban. LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry – a former Tigers linebacker – makes the splash hire that allows the school to move on from the Brian Kelly era, which produced a 34-14 record from 2022-25." 

What would a move do for LSU and Kiffin? 

Imagine the Saban era at Alabama with better support in a new era of college athletics. That is what it comes down to. While Kiffin would be foolish to jump from Ole Miss for reasons of institutional support, he'll be chasing championship dreams as a head coach at LSU. 

"Would Kiffin thrive at a high-powered program where the expectations are College Football Playoff every season while competing for national championships? He built that at Ole Miss in an almost under-appreciated fashion since taking over in 2020," Bender added. "Kiffin was 28-15 in four seasons with USC from 2010-13. We think he would do much better in Baton Rouge, La.., over a four-year period."

Kiffin’s career has been defined by rapid ascents and headline detours. That's his calling card in the business. The son of famed defensive coach Monte Kiffin, Lane Kiffin was 31 when Raiders owner Al Davis appointed him Oakland's coach, briefly making him the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. Two seasons later, Davis fired him in combustible fashion, labeling Kiffin a “disgrace” who “conned me like he conned all you people,” a public broadside that became part of his resume. Was Davis right about his assessment? 

Lane Kiffin's history of changes 

Kiffin rebounded quickly, securing the top job at Tennessee in 2009, only to depart after one season for USC, enraging Volunteers fans and adding to his reputation. In 2013, amid a mid-season skid, USC fired him on the airport tarmac following a loss at Arizona State. Another wrinkle in his career, but still kind of funny how it all ended. 

The years since have polished some edges and rebuffing his image. Ole Miss ranks 13th nationally in scoring at 37 points per game, and while Kiffin’s strategy is working, what's his ceiling in Oxford? It's not the same in Baton Rouge. 

Now, Ole Miss is trying to secure both Kiffin and a title. Only one may remain.

On Friday, the Rebels aren’t just playing football, but also waiting on a verdict and playing for the future.

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