Lane Kiffin’s exit from Ole Miss to take the LSU job wasn’t exactly a quiet walk out the back door - it was more like a fire alarm going off in the middle of a packed stadium. And now, the backlash isn’t just coming from fans or media voices. It’s coming from inside the locker room.
On Tuesday night, two Ole Miss players publicly challenged Kiffin’s parting words, specifically his claim that players wanted him to stay on and coach the team through the College Football Playoff, but were overruled by athletic director Keith Carter. That narrative didn’t sit well with offensive lineman Brycen Sanders, who took to social media to call it out directly.
Quoting Kiffin’s farewell, Sanders wrote, “‘Despite the team asking me to keep coaching.’ I think everyone that was in that room would disagree.”
Linebacker Suntarine Perkins didn’t mince words either. “That was not the message you said in the meeting room,” Perkins posted. “Everybody that was in there can vouch on this.”
That’s not just a disagreement - that’s a full-on contradiction from players who were in the room when Kiffin addressed the team. And it adds another layer to an already complicated departure.
"Despite the team asking me to keep coaching". I think everyone that was in that room would disagree https://t.co/p4g4qDR9XF
— Brycen Sanders (@BrycenSanders1) December 3, 2025
Kiffin has never been a stranger to controversy. From his early days with the Raiders to high-profile stints at Tennessee, USC, and now Ole Miss, he’s left behind a trail of scorched earth and mixed feelings.
But this one hits different. It’s not just about fan outrage or media scrutiny - it’s about trust inside the building.
For a coach, the locker room is sacred ground. And when players publicly push back on your version of events, it’s a sign that something broke down behind the scenes. Whether it was a miscommunication or a calculated spin, the reaction from Sanders and Perkins suggests the team didn’t feel heard - or worse, felt misrepresented.
Kiffin’s move to LSU is a seismic shift in the SEC landscape. He’s stepping into a program with national championship pedigree and sky-high expectations.
But the fallout at Ole Miss could follow him for a while, especially with the Rebels and Tigers set to face off in Oxford in 2026. That game just got a lot more personal.
That was not the message you said in the meeting room. Everybody that was in there can vouch on this . https://t.co/tssQmvGgQ3
— suntarine perkins (@suntarine) December 3, 2025
For now, Ole Miss is left to regroup without the coach who led them to the doorstep of the Playoff. And the players? They’ve made it clear they’re ready to move forward - without the revisionist history.