Lane Kiffin doesn’t need a press conference to make headlines-just a few characters on X will do the trick. The LSU head coach stirred the college football pot yet again with a cryptic post that had fans and insiders buzzing. Without naming names, Kiffin seemed to suggest that both LSU and Ole Miss-currently sitting atop the transfer portal rankings-owe a tip of the cap to his roster-building blueprint.
It didn’t take long for fans to connect the dots. Ole Miss, now under Pete Golding, is still thriving in the portal era, but much of that infrastructure was laid during Kiffin’s time in Oxford.
The Rebels’ aggressive approach to the portal-grabbing impact players and reshaping the roster year after year-became a signature of Kiffin’s tenure. So when he posted a not-so-subtle nod to both LSU and Ole Miss’ portal success, many saw it as a reminder: this system didn’t build itself.
Golding, who took over after Kiffin left for Baton Rouge, now finds himself in an interesting spot. The Rebels are winning, recruiting well, and making noise nationally-but Kiffin’s message casts a long shadow.
Was it a shot? A flex?
Maybe both. Either way, it raised questions about how much of Ole Miss’ current success is innovation under Golding, and how much is momentum carried over from the Kiffin era.
This isn’t the first time Kiffin has played the social media chessboard. His posts often walk the line between playful and pointed, and this was no exception.
Not long ago, after Ole Miss took down Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Kiffin jumped online with a congratulatory message: “What a great finish!!! So much fun!!
Only two more to go.” On the surface, it read like a proud former coach cheering on his guys.
But for those familiar with Kiffin’s digital playbook, it felt like there was more behind the exclamation points.
That post, like the recent one, sparked conversation about Kiffin’s ongoing connection to the Rebels’ success-and how much credit he still deserves. And while Golding is carving out his own path, there’s no denying the fingerprints Kiffin left behind. From culture to recruiting strategy, the current Ole Miss roster still bears the marks of the coach who built it to win now, not later.
So whether you see it as a subtle jab or just Kiffin being Kiffin, one thing’s clear: he knows how to keep himself in the college football conversation. And when the portal rankings drop and both LSU and Ole Miss are sitting pretty, don’t be surprised if Kiffin’s already got his next post queued up.