LSU coach Lane Kiffin was the biggest story of the frenzied coaching carousel that gripped college football toward the end of last season. After a controversial move from Ole Miss to LSU just before the College Football Playoff, Kiffin hit the transfer portal aggressively ahead of next season.
Analyst Reveals Lane Kiffin’s LSU Advantage
Kiffin retooled the Tigers’ roster, bringing in 40 players and managing to recruit the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country, just behind the Indiana Hoosiers.
During Wednesday’s segment of the “Get Up” show, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick revealed the advantage that the charismatic Kiffin enjoys in Baton Rouge with LSU, which hampered him in Oxford with Ole Miss.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who understands the portal like Lane, quite honestly,” Riddick said. “You can say what you want about him, this guy has mastered it. He’s been killing it the last three years as far as understanding that kids kind of vibe differently now. Kids will change schools in a heartbeat.
“He’s able to connect with them and the coaching staff in a way that gets them to come and wanna play. Lane believes that at LSU, he can also attract top-flight defensive players, which is something he struggled with at Ole Miss. He got two QBs in the portal. So, they’re set up right now and he’s got a hell of a coaching staff.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone who understands the portal as well as Lane [Kiffin]. … The dude knows how to build football teams in the modern day.”
—@LRiddickESPN on Lane Kiffin’s success in the offseason 👀 pic.twitter.com/kNQyjHc9ro
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 18, 2026
Kiffin brought in Ty Benefield, the No. 2 safety and No. 33 overall player in the transfer portal; Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 4 overall player in the portal; and No. 1 edge rusher and No. 5 overall player in the portal, Princewill Umanmielen, to bolster the Tigers’ defense.
Paul Finebaum Praises Kiffin’s Offseason Moves
During Thursday’s episode of the “Get Up” show, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum lavished praise on Kiffin’s offseason moves in the portal that included nine top-100 transfers and have addressed the holes in the LSU roster.
“Lane Kiffin, how many times do I need to say that?” Finebaum said. “He dominated the end of the season with his move, and then the CFP chaos, and then he brought in the portal. And you mentioned Leavitt; that was a major acquisition.
“He desperately had to have a quarterback, but he did so well in the portal. That could be a problem, though, he’s got so many new players on that team, but I think even with a difficult schedule, LSU is a CFP team.”
Kiffin’s Tigers will be among the most scrutinized teams next season after their aggressive hiring of the former Ole Miss coach and his subsequent extravagant use of the transfer portal.
