Lane Kiffin isn’t leaving much room for second-guessing.
Speaking Thursday on the Brandon Walker College Football Show, the LSU coach was asked whether the reality of the job has matched what he expected when he made the jump from Ole Miss. Kiffin’s answer made his stance clear: he believes the move has paid off and then some.
“Yeah, that and even more,” Kiffin said. “I don’t just say these things as you know.
Unlike that Kentucky game, where every day it haunts me, I’ve never thought twice about this decision. Just from getting here and seeing, when you play at home here, the stadium, the environment, the state, the people, how much support there is for football.
Then, the kids in the state, how they play, how they love football.”
Kiffin was the center of the college football conversation heading into the 2026 season after his controversial departure from Oxford before Ole Miss’ Playoff run. The noise around that decision has cooled some as LSU has settled into a 6-2 start, but the topic still follows him.
He said part of the appeal has been what he’s seen inside the program and around the state.
“We’re 8 games in. We’ve played already as well as anybody in the country at times and we’re a really dangerous team.
We’re able to do that in an offseason like we’ll never have before. We got here, then our coaches are still coaching there, going back and forth, didn’t know our current players on the team previous.
As crazy as it sounds, we will always have better rosters than we do here.”
Now the focus shifts to a major Week 10 test against Alabama. LSU will host the Tide next weekend in a matchup that matters for both teams, with each sitting at two losses and no easy path left through the SEC schedule.
In Other News...
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Arch Mannings long-term future at Texas has become one of the most closely watched quarterback stories in the sport, and the conversation now stretches well beyond Austin. Analysts and insiders have already started floating possible landing spots if he ever decides to move on, with Ole Miss among the schools mentioned because of the Manning family ties that still carry weight in Oxford. Georgia, USC and Miami have also come up in the mix, a reminder of how quickly the recruiting and transfer markets can change around a name like his.
For now, Manning remains on Texas roster and there has been no public indication that he plans to leave, but the speculation has only grown because of the uncertainty around what comes next. Steve Sarkisian has said he wants to see improvement from the quarterback, which adds another layer to a situation already loaded with attention, expectation and outside noise. For Rebels fans, the possibility is enough to keep one eye on Texas and another on the family connection that has never really gone away. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Has One Real Upset Path Against Ole Miss
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The wrinkle for Ole Miss is that Auburn has not exactly been clean up front when the game shifts into obvious passing situations. Its offensive line has had trouble in pass protection, which gives the Rebels a chance to dictate terms if they can keep Auburn behind schedule. For a game that already looks like it will hinge on control and discipline, the trench battle may end up deciding whether Auburn has any real upset shot at all. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State's Upset Chances Just Got Tied To Two Texas Stars
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Colin Simmons is the name that could swing the defensive side of it. The edge rusher is questionable because of a high ankle sprain, leaving his status unclear heading into kickoff. For Mississippi State, any sign of uncertainty around one of Texas top defensive pieces is worth watching closely, especially in a game where the Longhorns are trying to handle business and avoid any late surprises. [Read more 🡒]