Lane Kiffin’s transition to the LSU Tigers has turned into one of the wildest stretches in recent college football memory. The Lane train chaos followed him all the way to Baton Rouge, with multiple major controversies surfacing after he accepted the Tigers’ head coaching position, while LSU’s front office has also given him plenty of freedom.
Why Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers Embrace the SEC Villain Role
Pat Smith, co-host of “3 Man Front” on WJOX, appeared on “That SEC Podcast” on Sunday to discuss SEC football. Host Mike Bratton asked whether LSU football has embraced being viewed as the SEC’s villain, and his answer was interesting.
“When people like you or me criticize the great people from Louisiana or that LSU football, basketball, women’s basketball, baseball program, whatever the program may be, they are going to rally and they are going to circle the wagons,” Smith said. “They like it that way. They really do because it’s fun to have everyone else in the conference kind of hating you. They’re kind of that team that’s got that mark on them.”
Kiffin taking subtle shots at the Ole Miss Rebels is hardly new, and Rebels fans have regularly traded criticism with their former coach as well. One of the most recent controversies surrounding Kiffin came during an interview with Vanity Fair writer Chris Smith. Kiffin claimed he struggled recruiting certain Black players to Oxford because some families were concerned about Mississippi’s racial history, while praising the diversity at LSU in Baton Rouge.
The comments sparked backlash from Ole Miss supporters and administrators before Kiffin later apologized. However, LSU has continued to support Kiffin, and Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry recently said the program is returning to the “Saban model” under Kiffin’s leadership.
Ausberry also criticized the era under Brian Kelly, saying there was a disconnect between the coaching staff, players, alumni, and fans. Kelly has already been fired, and some see LSU’s praise of Kiffin while taking indirect shots at Kelly as similar to the way Kiffin has often praised LSU while criticizing Ole Miss. The partnership appears to suit both sides, as neither seems overly concerned with revisiting past controversies.
“It’s crazy to think how the governor stood up there and said they didn’t have any money when they were about to fire Brian Kelly,” Smith said. “Then all of a sudden they dish out $90 something million over the course of a contract for Lane Kiffin. Then they go out and hire Will Wade, and now they’re putting together as much money as possible for his NIL.
“So, it’s crazy, but I think LSU loves it. They knew what they were signing up for. And one thing’s for sure, they’re getting their money’s worth when it comes to marketing and getting the LSU name out there.”
Meanwhile, Kelly said he believes LSU can win the national championship under Kiffin. PFSN currently gives the Tigers a 39.2% chance to make the 2026 College Football Playoff.
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