Sports attorney Tom Mars says alleged tampering tied to the Demond Williams saga could have placed Lane Kiffin in rare legal and contractual danger, including the possibility of termination for cause.
Mars shared his findings before Williams announced that he would stay at Washington.
It injected a fresh round of volatility into one of the most chaotic weeks in modern college football.
Two of the sport’s biggest storylines collided at once. The Ole Miss Rebels were preparing for a College Football Playoff semifinal against the Miami Hurricanes amid lingering coaching uncertainty, while Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Attempted to back out of a recently signed $4 million revenue-share contract.
The common link between the two situations was Kiffin, whose abrupt departure from Ole Miss to take the LSU job has already reshaped the postseason and threatened broader legal fallout.
Kiffin left Oxford during the Rebels’ playoff run but initially allowed several assistants bound for Baton Rouge to remain with Ole Miss. That arrangement coincided with continued success, which included a Sugar Bowl upset of Georgia. The win extended the postseason journey that has complicated staffing plans for LSU.
As the run lengthened, Kiffin’s willingness to keep lending his future staff appeared to fade, further inflaming tensions within the program.
The Williams situation could've gone deeper than many believe
At the same time, the Williams situation erupted into a quick story.
After two seasons in Seattle, Williams signed the lucrative deal earlier this month to remain with Washington into 2026. Just days later, he announced plans to enter the transfer portal, effectively terminating the agreement. Washington officials indicated they intended to legally challenge the move aggressively.
Williams’ most frequently cited destination was LSU, according to Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde.
Mars weighed in publicly with a stark assessment of the potential exposure. He argued that tampering claims do not require NCAA enforcement to move forward, noting that schools can pursue civil claims for interference with contracts under state law — and that head coaches, as agents of their universities, could be named personally.
There’s an easy way to stop tampering in college football without the NCAA being involved. While the tampering school can be sued under state laws prohibiting interference with contracts, the head coach (the school’s agent) can also be sued. Most university indemnification 🧵 https://t.co/g8otvucqSQ
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 8, 2026
“Most university indemnification agreements would not protect the head coach if there is a verdict for damages,” Mars wrote, adding that unlawful acts or conduct outside the scope of employment are typically excluded. He added that proven tampering would constitute grounds to terminate a head coach “for cause” under every contract he has reviewed.
MORE: Is Lane Kiffin married? What to know about LSU coach and ex-wife Layla
Mars’ comments added another wrinkle given his current role representing Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in an eligibility dispute with the NCAA.
Mars drafted Ole Miss’ latest filing seeking a sixth year of eligibility for Chambliss, warning of potential litigation in Mississippi state court if inconsistent medical documentation standards persist.
Williams’ decision stunned many across the sport, not only for its timing but for its optics. The announcement reportedly came during a memorial for a deceased Washington athlete, with teammates present.
While NIL-era realities have led some to frame the move as business, criticism has been severe.
MORE: Demond Williams loses agent as NIL contract fight with Washington escalates
Lane Kiffin always moves on amid conflict
As for Kiffin, his career has been defined by contentious exits that historically have not slowed his ascent.
He was fired by the Raiders, dismissed by USC on an airport tarmac, and survived friction at Tennessee. Each time, he resurfaced. Now, LSU has reportedly committed roughly $91 million to him over the next seven years. That doesn't include incentives tied to Ole Miss’ playoff success, a remarkable wrinkle given the circumstances of his departure.
The revenue-share and NIL contracts remain difficult to enforce without traditional employment status, but Washington signaled it would pursue legal avenues with Big Ten backing as schools nationwide watch for precedent.
Mars’ warning raised an interesting question on whether the legal consequences in college football might actually catch up.
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