Lane Kiffin won’t be in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Instead, he’s expected to be courtside Thursday night for LSU women’s basketball as the Tigers take on Kentucky.
It’s a notable decision, especially considering the Sugar Bowl features Kiffin’s former team, Ole Miss, facing off against Georgia in a College Football Playoff matchup. ESPN had shown interest in having Kiffin appear on the broadcast, and there were conversations about a potential on-air segment. But the logistics - and the optics - of showcasing LSU’s new head coach during a marquee game involving his old program proved tricky.
Kiffin had reportedly been invited to the Sugar Bowl by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, but ultimately chose to stay away. And it’s not hard to see why.
Promoting LSU’s new hire during one of the biggest games in Ole Miss history? That’s a tough sell - both for the network and the schools involved.
Kiffin’s departure from Oxford has been one of the biggest storylines in college football over the last month. Even after leading Ole Miss to a win in the Egg Bowl on November 28 - capping the most successful regular season in program history - speculation swirled about his next move. That move became official when he accepted the LSU job, bringing several Ole Miss assistants with him and maintaining connections with key Rebels players.
In a move that’s raised some eyebrows but speaks to the unusual nature of this coaching transition, Kiffin has allowed some of those assistants to remain with Ole Miss through the playoff run. They’ll return to Baton Rouge once the Rebels’ postseason is over - and just like that, the rivalry will be back on.
As for the Sugar Bowl itself, Ole Miss and Georgia are set to kick off Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in the Caesars Superdome. The Rebels are chasing a shot at history, and while their former head coach won’t be in the building, his presence - or lack thereof - is still part of the story.