Carius Curne is headed to Oxford, and Lane Kiffin has to be fuming.
The former blue-chip offensive tackle committed to Ole Miss on Tuesday, flipping from LSU to the Rebels in what amounts to a full-scale heist of Kiffin’s roster by his replacement. Curne was one of top OL in the transfer portal. He started five games as a true freshman in Baton Rouge, lining up at both left and right tackle while playing over 300 snaps.
Now he belongs to Pete Golding.
Why Is Carius Curne’s Transfer to Ole Miss So Significant?
Pete Golding has done an excellent job of not only acquiring new talent but ensuring he retains his own at Ole Miss. While Lane Kiffin and LSU are looking at a net loss of 23 players thus far, the Rebels have a net gain of five. Let that sink in.
The “Portal King” himself is getting out-portaled by a first-time head coach who, by the way, is still coaching in the College Football Playoff. Golding’s staff has been pulling double duty, preparing for Thursday’s semifinal showdown against Miami while simultaneously locking down commitments left and right.
Curne accused LSU of holding up his paperwork during the transfer portal process.
“Holding my paperwork trying to prevent me from opportunity is crazy work,” Curne wrote on social media. “I just want to ball out.”
He’ll get that chance in Oxford.
MORE: Lane Kiffin Desperately Needs to Land Sam Leavitt, As Transfer Portal QBs Escape
The Hughes, Arkansas, native was a top-100 recruit in the 2025 class who originally spurned his home-state Razorbacks for Baton Rouge. That decision looks worse by the day for LSU.
Curne gives Ole Miss exactly what it needed: a proven SEC tackle with three years of eligibility and elite upside. Oh, and about that LSU vs. Ole Miss game on Sept. 19? Circle it. Curne will be protecting his new quarterback against his old team.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Golding retained the most important one. Trinidad Chambliss announced on Monday that he plans to return, pending the approval of an NCAA waiver for an additional year of eligibility. The Sugar Bowl MVP, who torched Georgia for 362 yards and two touchdowns, stayed put despite speculation he might follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge.
Then came the real gut punch.
Star running back Kewan Lacy, a first-team All-SEC performer who leads the conference with 23 rushing touchdowns, signed a deal to return for the Rebels in 2026. LSU was reportedly set to pursue Lacy with a lucrative offer if he hit the portal.
Instead, he’s running it back with Golding.
MORE: Ole Miss Retains 1,464-YD RB as Pete Golding Escapes Transfer Portal Loss
The portal additions keep stacking up too. Golding has already secured Auburn cornerback Jay Crawford, Baylor linebacker Keaton Thomas, Florida defensive back Sharif Denson, Nevada edge rusher Jonathan Maldonado, and Florida defensive lineman Michai Boireau. All defenders. All ready to contribute immediately.
Meanwhile, LSU’s current transfer portal class ranks 43rd in the nation, a jarring number for a program led by the self-proclaimed portal king. Kiffin whiffed on quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who took a $5 million NIL deal from Texas Tech.
He’s still searching for a starting signal-caller with the window closing Jan. 16.
The irony is almost too perfect. Kiffin built Ole Miss through the portal, signing No. 2 classes in 2022 and 2023 before landing the nation’s top class in 2024. Now his successor is using the same playbook against him and targeting his new program for parts.
Curne won’t be the last domino to fall Golding’s way. That Sept. 19 date in Oxford just got a lot more interesting.
