Lane Kiffin is headed to LSU, and the reaction around the college football world has been loud - and unsurprisingly, Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back. The longtime SEC voice weighed in on Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss, calling it “utterly destructive” and yet, in many ways, par for the course when it comes to Kiffin’s coaching career.
Speaking on First Take, Finebaum didn’t mince words. “It is just so typical of Lane Kiffin to do something so utterly destructive,” he said, pointing to the timing and the fallout of Kiffin’s move.
According to Finebaum, Kiffin had a choice - stay with a team he helped build, one still in the hunt for a championship, or jump ship. He chose the latter.
And that’s where the frustration lies for many around the SEC. Kiffin had repeatedly told his players they were building something special at Ole Miss.
That they had a shot. That he was in it with them.
And now, with the season still alive and meaningful, he’s gone.
“He lights a match to the castle that he built and he runs out of town in the middle of the night,” Finebaum said. “Although this was in broad daylight.”
That’s the part that stings - not just that Kiffin left, but how familiar this story feels. Finebaum ran through the list: the abrupt exit from the Raiders, the one-year stint at Tennessee, the messy USC departure, and his time as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
In each case, the ending was rocky. And in Finebaum’s eyes, this one fits the same mold.
The narrative here isn’t just about a coach taking a better job - it’s about timing, commitment, and the message it sends to the players who bought into the vision. Finebaum pointed out that Kiffin had flirted with other jobs in recent years - reportedly interested in Florida last season, and Alabama the year before that. This time, LSU called, and Kiffin answered.
“Finally, a major school gave him a shot again - Ole Miss - and he built a program,” Finebaum said. “And this year, he does the most predictable thing - he walks out on his team.”
It’s a tough pill to swallow for Ole Miss fans and players. Kiffin helped elevate the Rebels to national relevance again, building a high-powered offense and a swaggering identity that resonated across the SEC. But now, just as the program seemed poised to take the next step, their head coach is walking away.
The move to LSU will no doubt be one of the most talked-about coaching changes of the offseason. Kiffin brings offensive firepower and a proven track record of scoring points - but also a reputation for exits that leave scorched earth behind.
For Ole Miss, the focus now shifts to what’s next. For LSU, the Lane Train is rolling into town. And for the rest of the SEC, well, buckle up - this story is far from over.