On Saturday, November 29, Lane Kiffin will announce whether he’s staying at Ole Miss—where he’s leading the Rebels to the College Football Playoff—or joining LSU in a blockbuster $90+ million coaching move. The answer could reshape college football.
Key Takeaways
- Lane Kiffin must decide Saturday (Nov 29) between staying at Ole Miss or accepting LSU’s historic contract offer.
- Ole Miss is 11-1 and playoff-bound after beating Mississippi State 38-19 in the Egg Bowl on Friday.
- LSU is offering $90+ million over 7 years, plus $25 million for roster development—among the richest coaching deals in college football.
- Florida has moved on from Kiffin and is pursuing Tulane coach Jon Sumrall instead.
- Athletic Director Keith Carter set a deadline: If Kiffin leaves, Ole Miss will not allow him to coach in the College Football Playoff; they may suspend him or place him on leave.
- If Kiffin leaves, Jon Sumrall is Ole Miss’s top replacement candidate.
The Coaching Carousel Crisis: How We Got Here
Lane Kiffin, 50, has been the hottest coach in college football since October 2025 when Florida fired Billy Napier and LSU dismissed Brian Kelly within a week. Both Power 4 powerhouses chased Kiffin aggressively, offering huge contracts and hoping to lure him from Ole Miss.
The problem: Lane Kiffin has made Ole Miss one of the best college football teams in America. In his sixth season, he’s compiled a 54-19 record, won four 10-win seasons, and guided the Rebels to an 11-1 regular season—their first playoff-bound record in 120 years.
Lane Kiffin’s family took scouting trips to both Gainesville and Baton Rouge, meeting with donors, governors, and university officials. He even met with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who was openly critical of LSU’s previous coaching hire, Brian Kelly.
The Case for Each Team
Stay at Ole Miss
- Championship opportunity NOW: Ole Miss is 6th-ranked and in the College Football Playoff, with a real shot at a national title.
- Coaching legacy: Lane Kiffin has transformed Ole Miss from a perennial underachiever into a contender.
- Stability and family: Lane Kiffin has said multiple times that he loves Oxford and enjoys a stable personal life there.
- Continuity: Starting fresh at LSU or Florida means rebuilding rosters, while Ole Miss has proven chemistry.
Leave for LSU
- Unprecedented resources: LSU offers $90+ million over 7 years, plus $25 million annually for roster building—potentially $100 million total.
- Elite tradition: LSU is one of college football’s crown jewels with national championship DNA.
- Transfer portal power: As the “Portal King,” Lane Kiffin would have LSU’s Deep South recruiting reach plus money to sign top transfer portal talent.
- Top-tier recruits: Two of the nation’s top 30 high school prospects (including DL Lamar Brown) are within LSU’s local Louisiana reach.
Florida?
- ELIMINATED: Florida has officially moved on from Kiffin and is pursuing Jon Sumrall of Tulane instead.
The Pressure and the Ultimatum
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter set a hard deadline: Lane Kiffin must decide by Saturday, November 29. The reason is urgent: if Lane Kiffin stays, Ole Miss needs clarity to recruit. If he leaves, they need time to hire his replacement before the transfer portal opens in January.
Even more dramatic: Ole Miss officials have told Kiffin he will NOT be allowed to coach in the College Football Playoff if he’s already accepted another job. This is unprecedented leverage. If Lane Kiffin drags out a decision past Saturday, Ole Miss may place him on leave or suspend him—effectively forcing him out while his team competes for a national title.
Kiffin’s public comments show his anguish:
“I’ve got a lot of praying to do to figure that out tomorrow,” Kiffin told ESPN after the Egg Bowl win.
“This is a significant decision, and it’s challenging,” he also said, acknowledging the pressure from Ole Miss’ administration.
The Jon Sumrall Domino Effect
If Kiffin leaves Ole Miss, Jon Sumrall of Tulane is the Rebels’ top target. At 43, Sumrall has posted impressive credentials:
- 18-7 record at Tulane (2 seasons)
- 41-11 record as an FBS coach (4 seasons across Troy and Tulane)
- Back-to-back Sun Belt championships at Troy before moving to Tulane
- Ties to Ole Miss from his coaching background, making him appealing to Oxford
The wrinkle: Tulane is also ranked and could make the College Football Playoff themselves. If Sumrall jumps to Ole Miss mid-playoff run, it would be dramatic. But Ole Miss, Auburn, and potentially Florida all want him.
NCAA Football Scores & Season Context
Recent Ole Miss Football Score:
- Ole Miss 38, Mississippi State 19 (Egg Bowl, Nov. 28, 2025)
- This win gave Ole Miss an 11-1 regular season and virtually locked them into the 12-team College Football Playoff
College Football Scores Context:
The 2025 coaching carousel has created chaos across college football. With multiple Power 4 jobs open (Florida, LSU, and others), the entire competitive landscape is shifting.
What Happens Next?
Saturday, November 29, 2025:
- Lane Kiffin will announce his decision (exact time TBD).
- If he stays: Ole Miss preps for the College Football Playoff; LSU and Auburn pivot to other candidates.
- If he leaves for LSU: Ole Miss moves to hire Jon Sumrall; the transfer portal and recruiting wars intensify; Kiffin misses Ole Miss’ playoff run but takes a historic coaching job.
The stakes are enormous. A coach leaving a playoff team mid-season would be rare and controversial. But Kiffin is Kiffin—unpredictable, bold, and willing to shake up college football.
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Lane Kiffin’s Coaching Record & Ole Miss Legacy
Kirk Herbstreit & Media Reaction
Top college football analysts like Kirk Herbstreit and media personalities across ESPN, Fox, and The Athletic have spent weeks parsing Kiffin’s tweets and interviews for hints about his decision. A poll of 85 media members showed mixed predictions, but most expect him to stay at Ole Miss rather than abandon a playoff team.
One consensus: This saga is the biggest story in the 2025 coaching carousel, overshadowing James Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech and other high-profile hires.
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