Lane Kiffin is back in the spotlight - and not for drawing up a game-winning play or landing a five-star recruit. This time, it’s for something that feels all too familiar: a high-profile exit that’s left fans talking for all the wrong reasons.
Kiffin, now officially LSU’s head coach, found himself under fire from fans outside Baton Rouge after his very public departure from Ole Miss - a departure that came right after leading the Rebels to arguably the best season in program history. For LSU supporters, though, the optics didn’t matter.
They saw a proven winner stepping in to elevate the Tigers back to national championship relevance. But that early goodwill was put to the test during Saturday’s Texas Bowl.
LSU was in the middle of a tight matchup with Houston when Kiffin made an appearance on the ESPN broadcast. It was meant to be a light moment, a chance to hear from the Tigers’ new head man.
Instead, it turned into an awkward segment that raised more questions than it answered. Kiffin took the opportunity to praise his former Ole Miss players, calling their College Football Playoff win over Tulane “the biggest game in the state of Mississippi.”
He was beaming with pride - and rightfully so - but the timing felt off for LSU fans watching their own team battle it out in a bowl game.
Then came the comment that really stirred things up: Kiffin admitted he hadn’t seen much of the LSU game because his phone had been “blowing up” with calls from NIL agents. It was a throwaway line, maybe even a joke, but it didn’t land well. For a fanbase eager to see their new coach locked in and focused on the future, it came across as distracted - even dismissive.
But the real twist came after the interview. Video quickly surfaced online showing Kiffin leaving the stadium before the game had ended.
In the clip, fans can be heard calling out to him as he walks toward a black SUV and drives off. At that point, LSU was still very much in it, eventually falling in a 38-35 shootout to Houston.
To be clear, Kiffin wasn’t coaching the team on Saturday. He officially takes over after the postseason, and interim staff handled the bowl game.
From a technical standpoint, he had no obligation to be on the sidelines. But perception matters, especially when you’re stepping into a high-pressure role at a program like LSU.
And walking out before the final whistle - even if it was just to beat traffic or take a call - didn’t sit well with everyone.
Ole Miss fans, still stung by his departure, were quick to pile on. Social media lit up with familiar jabs about Kiffin being more interested in his next move than the moment at hand.
LSU fans, for the most part, came to his defense. They pointed out that he hasn’t officially taken the reins and that his presence at the game was more symbolic than strategic.
Still, the irony wasn’t lost on anyone. For a coach who’s become something of a master at managing his public image, Kiffin once again found himself trending for leaving early. It’s a narrative that’s followed him throughout his career - from Tennessee to USC to FAU and now again in the SEC.
But in the grand scheme, does it really matter? Probably not.
College football has changed. In an era where star players skip bowl games and coaching changes happen before the confetti even settles, Kiffin’s early exit from the Texas Bowl isn’t exactly a scandal. He’s already set to benefit financially from Ole Miss’ postseason success, and LSU fans are far more interested in what he does once spring practices roll around than whether he stayed for the final snap of a bowl game he didn’t coach.
That said, moments like this do shape perception. And for a coach stepping into one of the most visible roles in college football, every move - even walking out of a stadium - gets noticed.
Whether Kiffin cares is another story entirely. But for now, he’s in Baton Rouge, he’s got the keys to a powerhouse program, and the expectations are sky-high.
The Lane Train has officially pulled into LSU. Buckle up.