Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss to Become LSU’s Next Head Coach

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Lane Kiffin era at LSU Tigers officially begins, as the program confirmed Sunday that the veteran head coach will replace Brian Kelly after signing a high-stakes contract.

Kiffin, 50, agreed to a seven-year deal reportedly worth $91 million, which — before incentives — places him among the top three highest-paid coaches in college football.

In a statement, Kiffin said the decision followed “a lot of prayer and time spent with family,” calling it one of the most difficult in his career. He acknowledged the loyalty and commitment of his previous players at Ole Miss Rebels but said he believed the move was in his family’s best interest and essential for taking on a new challenge.

Kiffin departs Ole Miss after a six-season run with a 55–19 record, including this year’s 11–1 regular-season finish and what appeared to be a likely berth in the College Football Playoff. Sources indicate his request to coach the Rebels in postseason play was denied by Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter.

At LSU, Kiffin inherits a program that fired Kelly earlier this season and is searching for renewed momentum. LSU’s administration and many in the fan base appear optimistic that Kiffin’s offensive pedigree and recruiting acumen — along with possible staff additions — could restore the Tigers to national relevance.

His arrival marks another major shake-up in the SEC coaching landscape, and immediately raises expectations: LSU fans will watch closely to see whether Kiffin can translate his past success into sustained dominance in Baton Rouge.