Overview
- LSU signed Lane Kiffin to a reported seven-year, $91 million deal that will honor his Ole Miss postseason bonuses, reportedly up to $2.5 million if the Rebels win the national championship.
- Four LSU offensive assistants who followed Kiffin—Joe Cox, George McDonald, Dane Stevens and Sawyer Jordan—returned to Oxford to help Ole Miss prepare for the Dec. 20 College Football Playoff opener against Tulane.
- The assistants’ term sheets include noncompete language and a steep penalty of 300% of salary for leaving before March 2026, enabling the temporary return without risking LSU’s staff.
- Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach for the postseason, and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will continue calling plays before joining LSU.
- Archie Manning publicly criticized Kiffin in a video as QB Trinidad Chambliss won SEC Newcomer of the Year and said he is seeking an eligibility waiver, with the Tulane game set for Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN after a prior 45–10 Rebels win.