Lane Kiffin didn’t just make a bold move when he left Ole Miss for LSU in December-he made a statement. And now, with the recruiting scoreboard lighting up in Baton Rouge, that statement is looking more like a prophecy.
LSU currently sits atop the 247Sports team rankings with the No. 1 overall recruiting class in the country. That’s not just a feather in the cap for Kiffin-it’s a full-blown crown.
The Tigers have racked up 56 total commitments, boasting an average player rating of 89.59 and a class score of 349.18. That haul includes four five-stars, 22 four-stars, and 27 three-stars.
For context, Texas trails just behind at 348.56, followed by Notre Dame (347.94) and Ohio State (345.52). It’s a tight race, but LSU is leading the pack.
And it’s not just high school talent. LSU also landed the top-ranked transfer portal class, adding 41 players in the two months since Kiffin took over.
That kind of roster movement isn’t just impressive-it’s transformative. Kiffin didn’t just want a new challenge; he wanted a place where he could build something elite.
Baton Rouge is giving him that runway.
Speaking Tuesday at the Leadership Power Breakfast in Baton Rouge, Kiffin didn’t hold back. “It is an exciting time,” he said.
“I think, when these next two days are done, it will be the best portal class in the history of college football.” That’s not hyperbole-it’s backed by numbers and momentum.
But this wasn’t a decision Kiffin made lightly. According to him, two coaching legends helped tip the scales.
After winning the Egg Bowl, Kiffin had a conversation with Nick Saban-someone who knows a thing or two about building dynasties. “You know, Lane, you’ll always regret if you don’t go to LSU.
It’s the best job in America,” Saban told him. Pete Carroll echoed that sentiment.
When voices like that speak, you listen.
Now, with the recruiting receipts in hand, Kiffin has the proof to back up the move. But what’s perhaps most striking isn’t just the volume of talent LSU is bringing in-it’s the why.
According to Kiffin, this isn’t just a case of NIL dollars doing the talking. Some recruits turned down bigger financial offers and easier paths to playing time elsewhere.
Why? Because they wanted to be part of something special.
“We’ve got guys that normally would say, ‘You’re already loaded at that position, I’m not coming there,’” Kiffin said. “But they’re coming anyway. They’re saying, ‘Actually, these other places might offer more money, or have a better depth chart, but I don’t care-I want to be part of this.’”
That kind of buy-in doesn’t come easy, especially in today’s college football landscape where the portal and NIL have reshaped the recruiting game. But it speaks to the culture Kiffin is already building in Baton Rouge. He mentioned transfers from major programs all echoing the same sentiment: “It just feels different.”
And LSU isn’t done yet. The Tigers are still in the hunt for top-tier talent, including offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, who ranks fourth among available portal players. If they land him, it would be yet another statement piece in what’s quickly becoming a recruiting masterpiece.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss is left in a tough spot. Kiffin delivered five straight 10-win seasons and a playoff berth in Oxford.
That kind of consistency doesn’t grow on trees. Whether the Rebels can pick up the pieces and reload, or watch LSU continue to pull away, is the question that now looms over both programs.
One thing’s for sure-Lane Kiffin bet on LSU’s potential, and right now, that bet is paying off in a big way.