LSU head coach Lane Kiffin says he has one major regret about leaving Ole Miss: the way it all unfolded.
Speaking at SEC Media Days, Kiffin acknowledged that his departure during Ole Miss’ College Football Playoff run became far more chaotic than he anticipated. Looking back, he said he wishes he had handled the situation differently, including leaving immediately after Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter told him he would not be allowed to coach the Rebels in the postseason.
The move to LSU itself, however, is not something Kiffin regrets.
His exit turned him into one of the most polarizing figures in college football, with Ole Miss fans furious after he accepted the LSU job before the Rebels’ playoff appearance. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding ultimately took over as head coach for the postseason before becoming Kiffin’s permanent successor in Oxford.
Now entering his first season at LSU, Kiffin says hindsight has changed how he views the transition, even if it hasn’t changed his belief that Baton Rouge was the right destination. His return to face Ole Miss later this season is already shaping up to be one of the SEC’s most anticipated games.
