Lane Kiffin did the unthinkable. Days after securing a College Football Playoff berth with Ole Miss, he walked away from the team he built to take over their SEC rival, the LSU Tigers. While Kiffin has never shied away from controversy, leaving a championship contender in December to rebuild a struggling powerhouse stunned the college football world.
Now, the question isn’t why he left, but what happens next. Can he turn the Tigers into contenders immediately? And more importantly, who will he bring with him to Baton Rouge to make that happen?
Can Lane Kiffin Lure a Star Quarterback to LSU?
With his move to LSU official, Kiffin is wasting no time looking for talent. Known for his aggressive and successful use of the transfer portal, the new Tigers coach will likely target a veteran quarterback to lead his offense in 2026.
Kiffin’s track record with transfers speaks for itself. This past season at Ole Miss, he struck gold with Trinidad Chambliss. The Ferris State transfer took over for the Rebels after Austin Simmons’ injury and delivered a stellar campaign. Chambliss finished with 3,016 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, while adding 470 rushing yards and six scores. His performance earned him a PFSN CFB QB Impact (QBi) of 90.3, ranking fifth nationally with an A- grade.
This success has players across the SEC taking notice of Kiffin’s quarterback-friendly system. When asked about Kiffin’s departure, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed didn’t hold back his thoughts on the move.
“I feel like it was going to happen,” Reed said with Robert Griffin III laughing in the background. “Like no disrespect towards Lane or anything but you can’t talk about that long and then not happen. It was bound to happen.”
Reed then got even more honest and blunt. He added, “Shoot if $91 million for seven years was in front of my face, I would not pass it up.”
Kiffin, never one to shy away from responding in situations like this, took to social media to introduce his new signature slogan, #ComeToTheBoot, replacing his former slogan, #ComeToTheShip, to potentially lure Reed to LSU, telling him it’s a “Great offense for a QB!!!”
#ComeToTheBoot @RGIII Great offense for a QB!!! ♟️ https://t.co/2kUk3MCWbR
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 11, 2025
Although Kiffin is likely making a joke here, there’s no doubt he’d be extremely interested in Reed if he were to become available.
Reed has been excellent for the Aggies this season. He has completed 209-of-338 passes (61.8%) for 2,932 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and he’s rushed for 466 yards and another six touchdowns, all while leading the Aggies to an 11-1 record and the seventh seed in the College Football Playoff. Reed earned a PFSN CFB QB Impact (QBi) of 83.7, good for a B.
If Reed were to enter the transfer portal and the open market, he would be one of the most sought-after players in the country. Of course, he has been extremely productive with the Aggies this season and seems very happy where he is. Of course, he’s also paid very well. His numbers with the Aggies aren’t officially known, but Reed has an NIL evaluation of $2.1 million.
How Does the Playoff Schedule Shape Up?
Both the Aggies and the Rebels will get their quest for a championship on December 20. Texas A&M will play host to the Miami Hurricanes at noon, while Ole Miss hosts the Tulane Green Wave at 3:30 PM ET. The other first-round matchup on Saturday night at 7:30 PM ET will be the Oregon Ducks hosting the James Madison Dukes. The Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Oklahoma to take on the Sooners in the 8-9 game on December 19 at 8:00 PM ET.
Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech earned the four byes, with the Buckeyes playing in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Texas Tech (Orange Bowl), Indiana (Rose Bowl), and Georgia (Sugar Bowl) will all begin their playoff run on New Year’s Day.
With the transfer portal set to open on January 2, all eyes will be on Kiffin and LSU to see how they shape their roster for a run at the national stage.
