Lane Kiffin is gone from Ole Miss — however he’s definitely not forgotten.
The previous Rebels head coach ruffled some feathers along with his abrupt exit from the group — leaving in November to teach at LSU regardless of his former group securing a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff after among the best seasons in program historical past — and a few gamers seemingly nonetheless don’t respect that controversial resolution.
After the Rebels’ 39-34 upset victory over the Georgia Bulldogs within the Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinal on the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, January 1, Ole Miss defensive deal with Zxavian Harris advised ESPN that Kiffin was attempting to “steal our shine.”
“That’s all he’s attempting to do,” Harris mentioned. “That’s all he’s been attempting to do is steal our shine.”
New LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s former gamers at Ole Miss appear to disagree with their ex-coach’s recollection of his remaining assembly with the group. Whereas Kiffin, 50, mentioned in an announcement launched Sunday, November 30 that Rebels gamers wished him to maintain teaching the group via the upcoming Faculty Soccer Playoff, a number of group members […]
Harris continued, calling his former head coach a “troll” and saying his exit felt like “a slap within the face.”
“Like a slap and the backhand,” Harris mentioned. “He was attempting to be a troll. We’re going to troll him. We obtained one thing for him.”
With the victory within the Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss will subsequent face the College of Miami within the semifinals on Thursday, January 8.
The Ole Miss Rebels pose with the trophy after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the 2025 Faculty Soccer Playoff Quarterfinal on the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana Photograph by Chris Graythen/Getty Photographs
Kiffin accepted the top teaching job at LSU after six seasons at Ole Miss. In response to Kiffin, he requested to teach the Rebels all through the Faculty Soccer Playoff, however the college denied his request.
Ole Miss is now led by Pete Golding, who was named everlasting head coach shortly after Kiffin’s departure.
Whereas Ole Miss was taking the sector in opposition to Georgia within the Sugar Bowl, Kiffin was seen holding arms with LSU girls’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey at their sport in Baton Rouge.
“He was very gracious to return over right here,” Mulkey advised reporters. “They’ve the [transfer] portal opening tomorrow. So I do know he’s in all probability working. For him to return and let the LSU followers acknowledge him was very good, and I appreciated him coming and strolling out on the ground with me.”
Kiffin was reportedly contemplating attending the Sugar Bowl to assist his former group alongside Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, however didn’t make it to the Caesars Superdome for the sport.
He did, nonetheless, take to social media to congratulate his former group after the victory.
“What an amazing end!!! A lot enjoyable!!” Kiffin posted by way of X alongside images of him and his household celebrating the win. “Solely two extra to go @OleMissFB.”
Together with the win, he might have additionally been celebrating a bigger paycheck.
Kiffin earned a $500,000 bonus (paid for by LSU) after Ole Miss beat Georgia within the quarterfinals. As a part of Kiffin’s exit from the college, LSU agreed to cowl his full bonus construction from his Ole Miss contract.
If Ole Miss beats Miami within the semifinals, Kiffin will earn one other $750,000, with a $1 million bonus ready for him if the Rebels win the Faculty Soccer Nationwide Championship.
The winner of the sport between Ole Miss and Miami will face the winner of the January 9 sport between the College of Indiana and the College of Oregon on January 19.
