As the dust settles on a wild college football offseason, the scoreboard between LSU and Ole Miss is starting to take shape-and Lane Kiffin is walking off the field with a decisive win. After jumping ship from Oxford to Baton Rouge, Kiffin didn’t just take a new job. He took talent-coaches, players, and recruits-leaving Ole Miss scrambling to regroup while LSU stacks the deck for 2026 and beyond.
Let’s start with the Transfer Portal, where Kiffin wasted no time bringing some serious firepower with him to LSU. Among the notable names who followed him from Oxford: edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, defensive back TJ Dottery, linebacker Devin Harper, and wide receiver Winston Watkins.
That’s a quartet of high-impact players who were expected to be key contributors for the Rebels. Instead, they’ll be suiting up in purple and gold.
Sure, Ole Miss managed to land a few former Tigers in return, but the exchange wasn’t close to even. LSU clearly came out ahead in the talent shuffle, and the long-term effects could be felt for seasons to come. But if you’re looking for the moment that really stung for Rebels fans, it wasn’t just the players they lost-it was the one that got away.
Corey Barber’s 5-star bump adds salt to the wound
Tuesday morning brought more tough news for Ole Miss faithful. Rivals dropped its final rankings for the 2026 recruiting class, and wide receiver Corey Barber-now an LSU signee-earned his fifth star, climbing to No. 28 nationally.
That’s a major leap for the Pinson, Alabama native, who had been committed to Ole Miss for six months before flipping to LSU shortly after Kiffin made his move. At the time of his decommitment, Barber was ranked No. 167 overall, the 28th wide receiver in the class, and seventh in the state of Alabama.
Now? He’s a top-30 player in the country and one of the crown jewels of LSU’s 2026 class.
Barber’s rise in the rankings is a double blow for Ole Miss. Not only did they lose a top-tier recruit to a division rival, but they also watched him evolve into a 5-star prospect under Kiffin’s banner. That’s the kind of miss that can haunt a program-especially when the player ends up torching your secondary in a future SEC showdown.
A statement offseason for Kiffin and LSU
With one offseason in the books, Lane Kiffin has already made his presence felt in Baton Rouge. The combination of a historic haul from the Transfer Portal and a top-tier recruiting class has LSU fans buzzing-and expectations skyrocketing.
Kiffin’s ability to quickly retool a roster, especially in today’s era of player movement, is nothing short of elite. He’s not just building a team; he’s building a contender. And if this offseason is any indication, the Tigers are aiming for more than just SEC bragging rights-they’re eyeing a return to the national spotlight.
The challenge now? Turning all that offseason momentum into wins on the field.
But make no mistake: Lane Kiffin has already won the offseason battle. Now comes the real test-can he win when it counts?
For Ole Miss, the road ahead is about regrouping and redefining under new leadership. For LSU, it’s about living up to the hype. And for Lane Kiffin, it’s about proving that this offseason wasn’t just a flash-it was the start of something big.