Lane Kiffin to LSU: A Power Move That Shakes Up the SEC, and Ole Miss Turns to Pete Golding
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College football just got its latest seismic shift. Lane Kiffin is heading to Baton Rouge to take over as LSU’s new head coach, officially ending a saga that had been simmering for weeks. While the move had been widely anticipated, Sunday’s announcement made it real - and with it, Ole Miss suddenly finds itself in the thick of transition at the most critical point in its season.
Kiffin won’t coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff, which is a stunning twist for a program fresh off its first-ever 11-win regular season. That’s not just a milestone - it’s a breakthrough moment for a team that’s often been on the outside looking in when it comes to the national spotlight. Now, with a potential first-round playoff game on deck later this month, the Rebels will be led by a new voice: defensive coordinator Pete Golding.
But here’s where things get even more interesting - Golding isn’t stepping in as an interim. He’s been named head coach outright.
That’s a bold move, and one that signals confidence from the Ole Miss administration. This isn’t a placeholder situation.
This is a program looking to keep its momentum going with a coach they believe can lead them long-term.
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Golding isn’t new to high-stakes football. Before joining Ole Miss, he spent five seasons running Alabama’s defense, including the dominant 2020 unit that helped the Crimson Tide capture a national championship.
That group was fast, physical, and disciplined - hallmarks of Golding’s coaching style. He brought that same energy to Oxford, where his defense helped stabilize a team that had long leaned on its offensive firepower under Kiffin.
Now he gets the keys to the whole operation.
As for Kiffin, his departure to LSU brings him back to the center of the SEC’s power structure. He’s no stranger to the spotlight - from his days as Alabama’s offensive coordinator (2014-2016) to his head coaching stint at Florida Atlantic, Kiffin has always thrived in high-profile roles. And LSU, with its rich talent base and sky-high expectations, offers him a stage unlike any other.
There’s no sugarcoating the timing, though. For Ole Miss, this is a jolt.
The Rebels were riding high after a historic season, and now they’re heading into the postseason with a new head coach and a lot of questions. But there’s also a sense of continuity in the chaos.
Golding has been in the building. He knows the players.
He knows the culture. And now, he gets a chance to put his own stamp on a team that’s already made history - and isn’t done yet.
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On This Day in Crimson Tide History
December 1 has been good to Alabama football over the years, and it’s worth taking a moment to look back at a few defining moments.
1979: Steadman Shealy etched his name into Iron Bowl lore with a game-winning 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, lifting Alabama to a 25-18 comeback win over Auburn. The Crimson Tide dominated the stat sheet - 24 first downs to Auburn’s 11, and 394 total yards to 249 - and punched their ticket to the Sugar Bowl.
2012: In a game that felt like a national title matchup, Alabama outlasted Georgia 32-28 in the SEC Championship Game. AJ McCarron’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with just over three minutes left proved to be the difference.
Georgia had a chance to steal it late, but time ran out with the Bulldogs just five yards from the end zone. Eddie Lacy and T.J.
Yeldon combined for over 330 rushing yards in a physical, old-school SEC battle.
1996: Offensive lineman Matt Womack was born - a future member of the Crimson Tide trenches who would help carry on Alabama’s tradition of dominance up front.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 30, 2025
Looking Ahead
With Kiffin on his way to LSU and Golding taking the reins in Oxford, the SEC landscape just got a major shake-up. And with the College Football Playoff looming, all eyes will be on how Ole Miss responds.
There’s no question this team has talent. The question now is whether it can rally around its new leader and keep the dream season alive.
One thing’s for sure - the road to the national title just got a whole lot more interesting.