The coaching carousel in college football is always a wild ride, but what’s happening between LSU and Ole Miss right now? That’s not just a coaching shuffle - it’s an all-out tug-of-war. And at the center of it is Lane Kiffin, who’s barely unpacked his bags in Baton Rouge and already turned up the heat on his old program.
Before Kiffin even officially took over at LSU, the fireworks had already started. One of his first moves?
A bold one - he pulled offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and most of the offensive staff with him from Oxford to Baton Rouge. That wasn’t just a coaching hire; that was a statement.
Kiffin didn’t just want to build something new at LSU - he wanted to bring the core of what he built at Ole Miss with him.
But Ole Miss didn’t sit back quietly. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding and the Rebels struck back, zeroing in on LSU’s staff. That led to LSU General Manager Austin Thomas making his way back to Oxford - a bit of a counterpunch in this coaching chess match.
Then came one of the biggest moves yet: Frank Wilson, LSU’s interim head coach and one of the most respected recruiters in the game, was hired by Ole Miss. That move alone sent shockwaves through both programs. Wilson’s reputation as a recruiter is elite, and his departure created immediate questions around the future of Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith.
But Kiffin wasn’t done. On Sunday morning, he found a signature way to make his next move public - one that had fans on both sides talking.
After Ole Miss took care of business against Tulane, Kevin Smith was spotted traveling with Kiffin’s staffers back to Baton Rouge. That was Kiffin’s way of saying, loud and clear: Smith is coming with me.
The LSU Football account even joined the party, posting a photo with the caption: “Sunday Funday #thisplaceisjustdifferent.” Message received.
Now, with Smith officially heading to LSU, the next domino might be star running back Kewan Lacy. Ole Miss fans are watching this one closely - and for good reason. Earlier this month, a leaked phone call featuring Kiffin discussing both Smith and Lacy hit social media and instantly set off alarms.
The clip went viral, and the speculation hasn’t stopped since. Ole Miss insider Ben Garrett even predicted that wherever Kevin Smith ends up, Lacy could follow. That would be a massive loss for the Rebels - and a major gain for LSU if it comes to pass.
But here’s where things get tricky. LSU’s backfield is already loaded.
Caden Durham has been a force over the last two seasons, and 5-star freshman Harlem Berry has shown flashes of being the next big thing. That kind of depth could complicate any potential move for Lacy - unless one of those guys decides to hit the portal themselves.
And speaking of the portal, it doesn’t officially open until January 2nd. That’s when things could really start to move.
Until then, it’s all speculation - and with Ole Miss still playing, Lacy likely won’t make any decisions just yet. But make no mistake: this battle between LSU and Ole Miss is far from over.
The coaching war has already left its mark. The next front might be fought over who’s carrying the rock next fall.