LSU coaching rumors tracker: LSU officially lands Lane Kiffin after weeks-long saga

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LSU coaching rumors tracker: LSU officially lands Lane Kiffin after weeks-long saga

LSU coaching rumors tracker: LSU officially lands Lane Kiffin after weeks-long saga originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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As it turns out, the entire SEC was waiting on word from Lane Kiffin. Once it became clear Kiffin was headed to LSU, the floodgates opened.

Five SEC jobs filled on Sunday, but the domino that moved them all was Kiffin's decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU after six seasons. Kiffin followed through with controversial plans to become the Tigers' next head coach, landing a deal that will make him one of college football's highest-paid coaches and give him the resources to build a championship-caliber roster.

LSU reportedly remained confident in its belief it would land Kiffin all along, and the polarizing coach officially became the Tigers' Brian Kelly replacement on Sunday.

The Sporting News tracked all of the news and rumors from LSU's coaching search below. 

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LSU coaching rumors tracker

Kiffin announces departure for LSU

Lane Kiffin has announced he is leaving Ole Miss for LSU, confirming reports. In a statement, Kiffin said he will "forever cherish" his time at Ole Miss and said his request to coach the team through the end of the season was denied. Kiffin is flying to Baton Rouge this afternoon and will be introduced as LSU's head coach on Monday.

Kiffin lining offensive staff from Ole Miss

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 30 (12 p.m. ET)
  • Source:On3

Lane Kiffin is lining up his offensive staff at Ole Miss to join him at LSU, On3's Chris Low reports, adding that Kiffin told coaches they need to join him on a flight to Baton Rouge today or they won't be on his staff.

Kiffin has 'made it clear' he's headed to LSU

Kiffin has reportedly told Ole Miss officials that he's heading to LSU. However, the ongoing meetings are now about how the Rebels' coaching staff will shape up for the upcoming College Football Playoff, with some of the current staff expected to go to Baton Rouge with Kiffin. 

Kiffin meeting moved to afternoon

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 30 (9:30 a.m. ET)
  • Source:247 Sports

Kiffin's meeting with Ole Miss players has been moved from 10 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET, pushing back the decision timeline once again. It was reported late Saturday night that Kiffin's announcement on his future would come after the morning meeting.

Things getting messy between Kiffin and Ole Miss

Brett McMurphy is reporting that Kiffin is “demanding to finish the season while simultaneously threatening to poach” Ole Miss players if he's denied the opportunity to coach them in the College Football Playoff. This tension is part of what has led to the delay in Kiffin's announcement.

Kiffin to hold 10am ET team meeting with Ole Miss players

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 30 (just after midnight ET)
  • Source:Marty Smith

According to Marty Smith, Lane Kiffin plans to hold an Ole Miss team meeting at 10:00 a.m. ET on Sunday. He will make an announcement regarding his future thereafter.

LSU sending two planes for Kiffin and his family on Sunday

LSU executives and Kiffin's reps spoke after LSU's game vs. Oklahoma, per Ross Dellenger, and they made travel plans for Sunday. LSU is sending two plans for Kiffin and his family and others "to continue solidifying the deal."

Marty Smith says if Kiffin was staying at Ole Miss, 'he would have already said so'

In his latest Kiffin update, Smith said that "the sentiment in his unwillingness to commit is his desire to go." Additionally, Smith said that he believes if Kiffin was planning to stay at Ole Miss, he "would have already said so." 

Lane Kiffin's future 'hangs in doubt' following Ole Miss meeting

Not only do LSU officials reportedly believe they have Kiffin's commitment, but Dellenger also reported that Kiffin's future at Ole Miss "hangs in doubt" following Saturday's meeting at the Ole Miss chancellor’s home.

Dellenger described the meeting as "hours-long," and one source familiar with the Tigers negotiations told him that if Kiffin doesn't go to LSU, "we’ve been duped."

LSU officials 'believe' they have Kiffin, but CFP holding back formalization

According to Yahoo's Ross Dellenger, LSU officials "believe they hold Lane Kiffin’s commitment to be their next coach." However, there remains a "snag" in the potential formalization of that believed commitment, as Kiffin's desires to continue coaching Ole Miss in the postseason is preventing further steps.

More signs seem to point to Kiffin wanting to join the Tigers, but the hitch of the Rebels' CFP bid is adding another wrinkle to the situation.

Kiffin meeting with Ole Miss AD Keith Carter Saturday at 4p.m. 

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
  • Source:On3

We may not have to wait too long on Saturday afternoon for the Kiffin drama to be resolved. On Saturday, On3 reported that Kiffin was set to meet with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter at 4 p.m. ET. 

Last week, the two sides met and merely prolonged Kiffin's decision and announcement into this week. 

LSU 'very confident' Kiffin will be next head coach

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
  • Source: The Athletic

According to the Athletic, LSU is "very confident" that Kiffin will be the next head coach. Kiffin and Ole Miss finished off an 11-1 season with a win against Mississippi State on Friday.

Kiffin still undecided on future as of Friday

  • Date: Friday, Nov. 28 
  • Source: ESPN

Speaking with ESPN's Taylor McGregor after the game, Kiffin was asked if he's made a decision yet about his future. He said he has not, adding that "he has a lot of praying to do" to figure things out by Saturday. The drama continues! 

Kiffin speaks on LSU/Florida rumors ahead of Egg Bowl

  • Date: Friday, November 28
  • Source: Lane Kiffin

Kiffin had his say on the rumors of his potential departure during a pre-game chat with SEC Network's Marty Smith. He didn't actually offer any tangible updates on his status, instead saying that the whispers that swirl around Ole Miss are "nothing new."

Eli Drinkwitz signs extension with Mizzou

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz signed a new six-year extension with an average annual compensations of $10.75 million. Drinkwitz's name had been mentioned as potential replacement for Lane Kiffin if he leaves for LSU but he is now off the market.

LSU narrows list of other candidates, but all eyes are on Kiffin

The Advocate wrote a piece on Nov. 25 that had several interesting notes surrounding LSU's coaching search.

The newspaper reported that the school has compiled a list of other candidates aside from Kiffin, including Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz. But it added that Kiffin remains the school's main target. The report also ads that during a Kiffin family visit, excluding Lane himself, was spent looking at homes and touring local high schools. It added that Kiffin's daughter, Landry, attended a Tiger booster event last week. 

The Advocate confirmed LSU has offered Kiffin a $13 million salary, which would make him college football's highest-paid head coach. The school is also prepared to commit $25-30 million per year for roster-building. 

LSU appears to be main competition for Ole Miss

Appearing on ESPN's 'College GameDay' on Saturday morning, Pete Thamel reported that the main competition for Ole Miss appears to be LSU. Thamel added that the Tigers have made Kiffin their sole focus, whereas Florida has cast a wide net and has met with multiple candidates face to face.  

LSU believed to have momentum over Florida for Kiffin 

According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz and John Talty, Kiffin is an obvious candidate for both the open Florida and LSU jobs. But according to CBS Sports, LSU is believed to have the momentum to ultimately land the Rebels' coach. 

LSU prepares $90M offer to lure Kiffin from Ole Miss

  • Date: Nov. 2
  • Source: Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger

According to Dellenger, LSU is prepared to offer Kiffin a seven-year contract worth $90 million in salary, along with $25 million in annual roster cash. The offer has reportedly already been approved by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.

Ole Miss' extension offer comparable to LSU, Florida's contract proposals

The Rebels have already offered a lengthy contract extension to Kiffin, one that is similar in value to that of the offers LSU and Florida have put forward, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach. He'll get eight days to figure out his future, with Schlabach reporting that Ole Miss officials want time to prepare a transition plan in case Kiffin does depart.

Announcement on Kiffin's future coming Nov. 29, per Ole Miss vice chancellor

Ole Miss vice chancellor Keith Carter vowed that an update on Kiffin's future will be provided on Saturday following the Rebels' bout with Mississippi State. The administrator released a statement on X urging calm as Ole Miss readies for its rivalry game.

"Despite the outside noise, Coach Kiffin is focused on preparing our team for the Egg Bowl, and together, we want to ensure that our players and coaches can concentrate fully on next Friday's game," Carter wrote. "An announcement on Coach Kiffin's future is expected the Saturday following the game.

If/when Kiffin hired at LSU, Ed Orgeron could join

According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, if Kiffin is hired by LSU, the school would be open to former head coach Ed Orgeron being on Kiffin's staff. The report didn't have a role in mind, whether as a coordinator or an advisor, but it did mention that Kiffin and Orgeron have a long-standing relationship.

Kiffin meeting with Ole Miss AD on Friday

According to On3's Chris Low, Kiffin is set to meet with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter on Friday: 

NEWS: Ole Miss AD Keith Carter and head coach Kiffin are scheduled to meet this Friday, per Chris Lowe.

STORY: https://t.co/jesyF2wagu

via @on3sports | @clowfb

— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) November 20, 2025

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We should have a further indication on where things stand with Kiffin and Ole Miss after this meeting, or so you'd think. 

Kiffin reiterates happiness in Oxford

Kiffin spoke with reporters on the weekly SEC Teleconference on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, he was asked several questions about his future. He played things coy, as expected: 

Lane Kiffin: "I love it here. It's been amazing and we're in the greatest run in the history of Ole Miss at this point… I'm just living in the moment."

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) November 19, 2025

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He was also asked if he expects to be coaching at Ole Miss during the Rebels' rivalry game against Mississippi State. He responded in signature Lane fashion: 

He also downplayed the timing of him being the subject of coaching rumors during Ole Miss' playoff run: 

Lane Kiffin denies Ole Miss ultimatum rumor

With rumors swirling linking Kiffin to Gainesville and Baton Rouge, reports surfaced that Ole Miss had given Kiffin an ultimatum about his coaching future. The Rebels have watched other coaching candidates sign long-term extensions, and supposedly wanted clarity from Kiffin.

The Ole Miss head coach said that the rumors that he was given an ultimatum by the school were "absolutely not true." 

Kiffin family visits Gainesville, Baton Rouge

LSU picked up Kiffin's family members in a private plane on Monday and flew them to Baton Rouge to tour the city, the New Orleans Advocate/Times Picayune confirmed.

Fans keeping an eye toward the skies first noticed a private jet flying from Oxford to Baton Rouge, and those rumors quickly turned to credible reports that the flight was related to LSU's pursuit of Kiffin. After rumors circulated about a potential visit to Gainesville on Sunday, On3 confirmed Kiffin's family indeed made that trip as well. 

During the SEC Teleconference on Nov. 19, Kiffin was asked about the trips to both cities. Unsurprisingly, he declined to give specifics: 

Lane Kiffin is asked about what his family learned on trips to Gainesville and Baton Rouge

"I'm not getting in on any specualtion or stories that have to do with other jobs."

— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) November 19, 2025

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Jon Sumrall, Eli Drinkwitz could be LSU targets

Tulane's Jon Sumrall and Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz could be LSU's next options if Kiffin decides not to make the move to Baton Rouge, the New Orleans Advocate/Times Picayune reports. Sumrall has also been heavily connected to Auburn, while Drinkwitz has Missouri at 7-3 on the season and has been in Columbia for six seasons.

Ole Miss looking for Kiffin resolution this week

Ole Miss is seeking a resolution on Kiffin's status with the program this week, On3's Pete Nakos reports. 

The Rebels are in an awkward position, as they are likely headed to the College Football Playoff and would not see their season end for another month at the very earliest in that scenario. Kiffin, meanwhile, is already at the center of both the LSU and Florida coaching searches. 

"If Lane Kiffin doesn’t meet deadline, Ole Miss would have to decide if it would allow him to coach in the playoffs," On3's Brett McMurphy reported. 

Lane Kiffin the 'focus' of LSU search

While LSU reached out to Nick Saban to gauge his interest after firing Brian Kelly, Kiffin is now the focus of the Tigers' coaching search, FootballScoop reports.

"Many in the profession do not expect Lane to make that move as the bad blood doesn't feel like something Lane is into these days," the report adds, also confirming that some kind of a resolution could happen this week. 

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