Lane Kiffin won’t be in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl tonight. Instead, he’s expected to be in Baton Rouge, taking in a top-15 women’s basketball showdown between LSU and Kentucky at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Tipoff for that game is set for 8 p.m. ET-the exact same time Ole Miss, Kiffin’s former team, kicks off against Georgia in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Superdome.
It’s a notable decision, especially given the circumstances. Earlier this week, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry extended an invitation to Kiffin to attend the Sugar Bowl. There were also reports that ESPN had been in touch with him about a potential appearance on the broadcast, given his recent and dramatic departure from Ole Miss.
Kiffin’s exit was one of the more unconventional coaching moves in recent memory. After leading the Rebels to an 11-1 regular season-the best in program history-he stunned the college football world by accepting the LSU job before the postseason began. That left Ole Miss heading into its first-ever College Football Playoff without the coach who’d built their best shot at a national title.
In stepped Pete Golding, the former defensive coordinator, who was quickly elevated to the full-time head coaching role. Golding didn’t waste time making his mark, guiding the Rebels to a first-round CFP win over Tulane and into tonight’s heavyweight clash with Georgia.
Kiffin’s choice to attend the LSU women’s basketball game instead of the Sugar Bowl sends a message-intentional or not. It’s a clear pivot toward his new program and perhaps a subtle way of turning the page on his Ole Miss chapter.
The Tigers’ women’s team, ranked No. 5, is facing an equally strong No. 11 Kentucky squad in a prime-time SEC battle.
It’s a high-profile matchup in its own right, and Kiffin’s presence courts attention in Baton Rouge as he settles into his new role.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the team he left behind is chasing history without him.