Insider Says Lane Kiffin Likely to Stay at Ole Miss Despite LSU Offer

Lane Kiffin’s name has been everywhere this season. LSU is rumored to be offering him a huge $13 million deal, politicians are talking about him, and fans are watching closely. But one national insider believes Kiffin isn’t planning to leave Ole Miss anytime soon.

J.D. Pickell joined the Paul Finebaum Show and said he thinks Lane Kiffin will turn down the LSU job even though the money is big. According to Pickell, Kiffin cares more about having full control of his program than anything else.

Pickell explained that if a school wants Kiffin, it has to give him complete freedom — control over the transfer portal, the roster, NIL decisions, and everything else. He said Lane Kiffin wins when he can run things his way, and LSU may not offer that kind of freedom. At LSU, boosters, school leaders, and even politicians often get involved in major decisions.

That political interest is real. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry recently said he spoke with Kiffin for two hours about the LSU job. He joked that a local radio host still knew more than he did, but his involvement shows how big this coaching search has become.

Pickell also said that Kiffin’s coaching style doesn’t work for every program. Some coaches need space to be themselves, and Kiffin is one of them. He compared it to the unique styles of Kirby Smart and Nick Saban — great coaches who aren’t the right fit everywhere.

At Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin has found that space. He has been there almost seven years, and the Rebels are now close to making the College Football Playoff. They are ranked No. 6 and still have one more chance to impress when they play Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on November 28.

But there’s a question hanging over the team: What happens if Kiffin leaves before the playoff? Rumors say Ole Miss wants to know if he plans to stay through 2026. Some reports even suggest he might not be allowed to coach in the playoff if he doesn’t commit.

The playoff committee has made decisions like this before. In 2023, an undefeated Florida State team was left out after losing its starting quarterback. The committee cares about who will actually be available to play.

The good news for Ole Miss fans is that this year’s playoff has 12 teams, making it harder to leave a top team out. A coaching change might affect their seeding, but it likely won’t knock them out completely.

Even with all the rumors, Pickell is confident about one thing: Lane Kiffin values his freedom more than a massive paycheck. And that’s why he believes Kiffin will stay at Ole Miss rather than jump to LSU.

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