NEW ORLEANS — It’s been a few weeks since Lane Kiffin accepted the LSU job after being told he wouldn’t coach Ole Miss in the playoff. Yet, the situation still feels uneasy. Many argue that Ole Miss is better off without Kiffin, but it’s hard to shake the awkwardness of it all.
At the Sheraton Hotel ballroom during Ole Miss’s media day, LSU assistants were present talking with players. It’s unusual to see coaches from a rival school mingling with players just moments before big games. One coach, Charlie Weis Jr., was seen in an Ole Miss hoodie, but just hours later, he was back on calls with LSU staff about the transfer portal.
This scenario is far from typical. Players expressed the tension, describing their situation as “hectic” and “awkward.” Defensive player Trinidad Chambliss noted that early on, it was challenging to figure out who would be in meetings. However, he added, “What really matters is what we do on the field.”
Their first game against Tulane showed promise as they secured a win, but things get serious on Thursday with a rematch against Georgia — a tough opponent. The mix of LSU staff standing at the edge of the interview area highlighted how strange the moment was. Coaches have tough decisions to make, balancing their new roles while trying to help both teams succeed.
“What if coaches from opposing schools are in your locker room?” questioned one source familiar with the setup, reflecting on the bizarre nature of the coaching situation. The tension around future job security looms large for many assistant coaches.
As the game approaches, it becomes clearer just how much the transfer portal complicates things. The winner of the Georgia and Ole Miss game will have to prepare for the next phase while the portal officially opens just as the game concludes. Players might find themselves negotiating with coaches right across the field — a surreal reality in today’s college football landscape.
With the possibility of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry attending the game alongside Kiffin, the drama seems to intensify. As Pete Golding, the Rebels’ coach, aptly put it, “Retention is more critical than replacement.”
This situation reveals just how dynamic and complicated college football can be in 2025. As teams focus on playoffs, the pressure from the transfer portal adds an extra layer of urgency, signaling a shift in how college sports function today.
Source link
