Lane Kiffin isn’t exactly keeping things quiet since making the jump to LSU. In fact, he’s turning up the volume-and Ole Miss is hearing every bit of it.
The latest ripple? LSU is expected to hire Kevin Smith, Ole Miss’s running backs coach, and it’s happening under Kiffin’s watch. The move isn’t just a coaching change-it’s the continuation of an increasingly tense tug-of-war between two SEC programs with plenty of shared history and no shortage of current drama.
Kiffin, who’s never been shy on social media, reshared the news of Smith’s expected move on Instagram. The timing wasn’t lost on anyone.
Smith, a respected assistant and a key part of the Rebels’ offensive staff, is now reportedly in Baton Rouge, meeting with Kiffin on campus. If the deal goes through, he’ll slide into the same role under Kiffin at LSU.
This isn’t just about a coach switching sidelines-it’s part of a broader storyline that’s been building since Kiffin’s departure from Oxford. Since taking over at LSU, he’s been keeping a close eye on his former program, and this latest move adds fuel to the fire.
For Ole Miss fans, it all feels a little too familiar: a high-profile coach leaves, then starts pulling key staff with him. Déjà vu, with a Louisiana twist.
Meanwhile, Pete Golding, now tasked with steering the Rebels through this rocky transition, is trying to hold things together. Golding came to Oxford with a clear mission: stabilize a program that’s been swirling in uncertainty. But with Kiffin and LSU actively targeting Ole Miss staffers, that job’s getting tougher by the day.
And it’s not a one-sided battle, either.
Ole Miss is reportedly making moves of their own, targeting LSU’s interim head coach-none other than Frank Wilson, one of the most respected recruiters in the SEC. Wilson has been a foundational figure at LSU since 2022, and if Ole Miss were to land him, it would be a seismic shift. Losing Wilson would hit LSU hard-not just in terms of X’s and O’s, but in locker room leadership and recruiting clout.
So yes, there’s a chess match underway, and the board stretches from Oxford to Baton Rouge. Kiffin and Golding are both playing to win, and neither is backing down.
For LSU, the addition of Kevin Smith would be a big one. He’s well-regarded, experienced, and familiar with Kiffin’s system. For Ole Miss, the potential loss stings-but the reported pursuit of Frank Wilson shows they’re not just playing defense.
This is the new SEC reality: high-stakes, high-drama, and deeply personal. As the offseason unfolds, expect more moves, more counter-moves, and plenty of tension between two programs that clearly aren’t done with each other.
Buckle up. This rivalry isn’t cooling off anytime soon.