Lane Kiffin's family tours Baton Rouge as LSU football search intensifies

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LSU football’s search for a new head coach took a significant step on Monday. The top figure in the coaching cycle is undoubtedly Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, and NOLA.com’s Wilson Alexander has reported that members of Kiffin’s family flew into Baton Rouge on a private jet to tour the city.

Obviously, Kiffin himself can’t be involved in such a situation, as he and his Rebels are starting their bye week before a crucial playoff-deciding matchup against their in-state rival, Mississippi State. Although he’s been intentionally vague about considering a new job after the 2025 season, it’s obvious that Kiffin is seriously considering taking a new position after this season.

The two schools leading the bidding war for Kiffin are LSU and Florida, per On3. Members of Kiffin’s family also visited Gainesville on Sunday, further proving this isn’t just a one-team race.

Florida isn’t the only obstacle to LSU’s hopes of signing Kiffin, either. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry played a major role in Brian Kelly’s firing, as well as that of former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward. Landry’s remarks about Brian Kelly’s contract might make Kiffin less interested in ending up in Baton Rouge.

“Right now, we have a $53 million liability, and we are not doing that again,” Landry said.

But coaching candidates like Kiffin will cost teams that kind of money. Kelly’s contract was by no means unreasonable when it was signed — the problem was that he wasn’t able to perform the way the price tag requires. There’s always the chance that could happen with Kiffin as well, but when you look at what he’s done with Ole Miss' program — sitting with a 53-19 record and three AP Top 15 finishes — the likelihood that he won’t succeed with LSU’s resources seems low.

Whether Kiffin chooses Baton Rouge, Gainesville, or remains in Oxford is uncertain, but the fact that his family is exploring the options is very notable. 

Ole Miss is 10-1 and nearly a lock for the College Football Playoff. It's unclear how the playoff will affect Kiffin's timeline.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Kiffin's family tours Baton Rouge as LSU football search intensifies

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