Lane Kiffin reflects on Ole Miss CFP win while beginning new era at LSU

Christian Standal

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Lane Kiffin reflects on Ole Miss CFP win while beginning new era at LSU image

Lane Kiffin didn’t have much time to savor Ole Miss’ College Football Playoff win over Tulane. That didn’t stop him from appreciating what he called one of the most significant moments in Mississippi football history.  

Appearing on ESPN’s broadcast of the Kinder’s Texas Bowl in Houston, Kiffin briefly reflected on Ole Miss’ postseason success while settling into his new role as LSU’s head coach. The interview marked one of Kiffin’s first public appearances since being hired by LSU on Nov. 30.

“It was awesome. That was a great day, it really was,” Kiffin said when asked about Ole Miss’ CFP victory. “I’m not just saying that, it was the biggest game in the state of Mississippi.”

Kiffin admitted he hadn’t been able to watch much of the game in real time, citing the realities of modern college football.

“I didn’t get to watch a lot of it,” he said. “I was on the phone. Agents, NIL stuff, that's the world we live in now.”

 

That reality has defined Kiffin’s first month at LSU. While he watched Houston open the Texas Bowl with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown from the sideline at NRG Stadium, much of his attention has already shifted toward roster construction. With the NCAA transfer portal opening Friday, Kiffin and his staff are preparing to aggressively reshape the Tigers’ roster.

LSU has immediate needs at quarterback, along the offensive line, and at wide receiver. Kiffin said his plan is to prioritize in-state recruiting while supplementing through the portal. This is a strategy he believes is uniquely suited to Louisiana.

“LSU being LSU in the state of Louisiana, you’ve got so many great in-state players,” Kiffin said. “More per capita NFL players than any other state. Keeping those guys home is a huge priority.”

That approach differs from his time at Ole Miss, where Kiffin noted that few key contributors came from Mississippi.

“All those guys came in to be part of what we were building,” he said.

Kiffin did not coach LSU during the bowl game, which was led by interim head coach Frank Wilson following Brian Kelly’s dismissal. Wilson has since accepted a role at Ole Miss, while Kiffin has brought several familiar faces with him to Baton Rouge, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who is still helping coach the Rebels through the CFP.

“We’re trying to make it work for both sides,” Kiffin said. “Ole Miss can chase a national title, and we can be building something special here.”

For Kiffin, the past and future are colliding, and both programs remain very much in his orbit.

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