The 2025-26 college football coaching carousel didn’t just spin - it spun out of control. With 30 FBS head coaching changes already in the books and a few more dominoes still waiting to fall, this has been one of the most chaotic cycles in recent memory. From national powerhouses like LSU to Group of Five programs like UAB and Colorado State, turnover has been the name of the game.
But amid the whirlwind of hires, one move stands above the rest - at least according to ESPN analyst Bill Connelly, who gave LSU’s bold decision to hire Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss a glowing A+ grade. And honestly, it’s hard to argue with the logic.
Let’s break it down.
Why LSU’s Move for Kiffin Hits the Mark
Kiffin’s departure from Oxford was anything but quiet. The drama stretched on for weeks and reached a fever pitch when he left a playoff-contending Ole Miss team for an LSU squad he had just beaten. That storyline alone guarantees this move will be a permanent chapter in his already colorful coaching biography.
But the theatrics aside, the resume speaks for itself. Over the past nine seasons, Kiffin has posted six double-digit win campaigns - and not at traditional juggernauts, either.
He’s done it at places where sustained success has been hard to come by. Most notably, he just wrapped up the best three-year stretch Ole Miss has seen in over 60 years.
That’s not just winning - that’s elevating a program.
LSU, a school with the resources and ambition to chase national titles every year, went out and got a coach who’s proven he can win big and win consistently. Kiffin brings offensive creativity, recruiting chops, SEC familiarity, and a swagger that fits right in with the culture in Baton Rouge. He checks nearly every box you want in a modern head coach - and LSU has the budget and backing to check those boxes.
Simply put, this is a hire that signals intent. LSU isn’t here to rebuild - they’re here to reload and contend.
SEC Shuffle: A Conference in Transition
Kiffin’s move was just one piece of a much larger puzzle in the SEC, where six programs made coaching changes this cycle. That’s nearly half the conference hitting the reset button.
Here’s how the rest of the shakeup looks:
- Auburn: Alex Golesh steps in for Hugh Freeze, signaling a shift toward a more up-tempo offensive identity.
- Florida: Jon Sumrall takes over for Billy Napier, bringing a defensive-minded approach to a program searching for stability.
- Ole Miss: Pete Golding, previously the defensive coordinator, gets promoted to replace Kiffin - a continuity move that keeps the staff mostly intact.
- Arkansas: Ryan Silverfield takes the reins from Sam Pittman, aiming to re-energize a program that’s struggled to find consistency.
- Kentucky: Will Stein is now the man in charge, stepping into a program that’s quietly become one of the more stable jobs in the SEC East.
Each of these hires carries its own set of questions and expectations, but none come with the spotlight - or the pressure - that Kiffin will face at LSU.
The Road Ahead in Baton Rouge
Expectations in Baton Rouge are never low, and they certainly won’t be for Kiffin. He inherits a roster with talent, a fanbase hungry for championships, and a program that has shown it can win it all - and not that long ago. The 2026 season will be a proving ground, and Kiffin won’t get much of a grace period.
But that’s the tradeoff when you take a job like LSU. It’s not about rebuilding. It’s about winning - now.
And if Kiffin’s track record is any indication, he’s more than ready for the challenge.