Lane Kiffin finally returned to Twitter on Friday afternoon, and the timing made it feel like football season had officially kicked the door open.
It had been eight days since Kiffin last posted, a silence that started on May 11 after a Vanity Fair cover story on him ran the same day. That story included controversial comments Kiffin made about his previous head coaching job at Ole Miss, where he coached from 2020-25. Kiffin had said he stopped tweeting because his son Knox, the starting quarterback at University High on the LSU campus, challenged him to do it.
This time, Kiffin was back to promote a new Dr Pepper “Fansville” commercial he appears in. His post read:
#ad Nothing beats hitting the open road. Just me, my @DrPepper and a straight shot to Fansville. Watch here: https://t.co/W3aTfUKIPo
- Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) August 28, 2026
In the commercial, Kiffin gets pulled over by the sheriff of the fictional town of Fansville and says, “Not really known for following the rules.”
The tweet landed with LSU set to open the 2026 season in eight days against No. 23 Clemson in Tiger Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on ABC. Kiffin’s Tigers are ranked No. 11 heading into that opener.
At the same time, Kiffin is also in the middle of a messy eligibility dispute involving NFL players and the NCAA. Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey has said Kiffin is not following the rules in that fight.
One response to Sankey argued that as a former NCAA compliance guy at the SEC office, he should understand the NCAA sits over the SEC - and if the NCAA is under a restraining order, the SEC is too.
But judges and attorneys tied to the eligibility lawsuit involving players now committed to Kiffin see it differently. One attorney said Sankey is not following the rules and could be in contempt of court.
So yes, Kiffin is tweeting again, LSU football is nearly here, and the latest chapter in the off-field drama is still rolling. The only question left: when does Sankey show up in a “Fansville” commercial?
In Other News...
Former LSU Standouts Are Turning Preseason Chances Into Real NFL Momentum
Training camp headlines can blur together fast, but a handful of former LSU standouts have given themselves a much better shot at sticking in the NFL with strong preseason showings. Jack Pyburn, Barion Brown and Zavion Thomas all made noise in different uniforms, and each turned early opportunities into production that caught attention beyond the usual August noise.
Pyburn finished with four sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brown chipped in multiple catches and a rushing touchdown for the New Orleans Saints, and Thomas was especially productive for the Chicago Bears with five receptions for 140 yards and a score. For LSU fans, it is the kind of preseason development worth tracking closely, because performances like these can be the difference between a practice-squad wait and a real roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kellys First Post-LSU Move Will Spark Plenty Of Reactions
Brian Kellys first fall away from the sideline came with a headset instead of a play sheet, as he made his debut as a college football color commentator on CBS for the North Dakota State-Jacksonville State game. For a coach who had not spent a season outside the profession since the late 1970s, the shift was a notable one, and it immediately gave LSU fans a different way to watch the former Tigers coach start his next chapter.
Kelly said he knows there is work to do on the broadcasting side, but he also sounded appreciative of the help he received from his CBS colleagues. The move comes after a long coaching run and his recent departure from LSU, so seeing him in the booth instead of on the sideline is bound to draw reactions in Baton Rouge and beyond as his post-LSU path begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Get A Huge Pass Rush Boost Right Before The Opener
With NFL teams trimming down to their 53-man rosters, former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn is suddenly in play again. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived him as they finalized their roster, and if he clears waivers, the plan is for him to head back to Baton Rouge just before the Tigers open the season.
For LSU, the timing could hardly be better. The SECs recent decision to allow players on NFL rosters to return to college football opened the door for Pyburn and other former NFL players to rejoin the Tigers, giving the defense a chance to pick up a significant boost right as the opener approaches. The only question now is how quickly everything falls into place. [Read more 🡒]