Lane Kiffin is heading to Baton Rouge. After weeks of swirling rumors, the now-former Ole Miss head coach made it official on Sunday: he’s out at Oxford and in at LSU.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Lane!@OldRowOleMiss pic.twitter.com/yaIJREndZx
— Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) November 30, 2025
The move comes on the heels of a historic season for the Rebels - an 11-1 campaign that has them in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation. But Kiffin won’t be leading them into the postseason.
That job now belongs to defensive coordinator-turned-head coach Pete Golding.
Lane Kiffin leaves Oxford for Baton Rouge and hears it from spectators. 🏈🗣️🛫 #CFB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 30, 2025
(via @JTalty) pic.twitter.com/OVve3nqLMp https://t.co/wH3EcY6NcC
The news broke with a statement from Kiffin, who explained his decision to leave and pointed to a disagreement with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter over whether he’d be allowed to coach the team through the playoff run. According to Kiffin, Carter denied that request, effectively closing the door on a storybook ending with the Rebels.
Not long after the statement dropped, Kiffin was spotted boarding a private jet in Oxford, bound for Baton Rouge. The scene at the airport was tense - and emotional.
A group of Ole Miss fans showed up to send off their coach, but this wasn’t a warm farewell. There were boos, there were expletives, and there were plenty of one-finger salutes as the jet took off.
It was a raw moment that captured just how deep the connection - and now the betrayal - felt for many in the Ole Miss community.
Kiffin’s departure ends a six-year run in Oxford that saw the Rebels rise to national prominence. This year’s 11-1 record is the best in program history, and there’s a real chance Ole Miss could be playing for a national title. But that journey will now continue without the coach who helped build it.
In his place steps Pete Golding, a familiar face on the sidelines and someone the program clearly believes in. Carter made the move official shortly after Kiffin’s exit, calling Golding the “permanent” head coach and signaling a desire for stability and continuity as the Rebels prepare for their biggest games in decades.
Meanwhile, Kiffin takes over an LSU program that’s coming off a disappointing 7-5 season and the firing of Brian Kelly. It’s a high-profile landing spot - and one that will come with immediate expectations. Kiffin’s offensive mind and recruiting acumen will be tested in the pressure cooker that is SEC football, especially with a fan base that’s grown restless in recent years.
College football is the best pic.twitter.com/5eqFlwTQqG
— Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) November 30, 2025
As for the next time Kiffin returns to Oxford? Let’s just say it probably won’t be a warm welcome. The fans made their feelings known on Sunday, and that sentiment isn’t likely to cool off anytime soon.