Everything changes now.
Lane Kiffin’s redemption arc just made a 180-degree pivot. He’s a turncoat again.
The Portal King has entered the transfer portal, and he took a blow torch to his Mississippi legacy on the way out the door.
Lane’s back in the fast lane, rekindling his renegade past. Kiffin spent nine seasons coaching underdogs, and those years became his finest hour, but he never stopped being the proprietor of heartbreak hotel.
He’s off to coach rival LSU, and he’s breaking faith with playoff-bound Ole Miss.
Step 1: Howl at the moon, and burn stuff in the streets.
Step 497: When Kiffin returns to Vaught-Hemingway, bring mustard bottles and yellow golf balls.
Ole Miss hired Kiffin when schools like LSU wouldn’t have him. When Kiffin had to choose between reupping with Ole Miss or turning heel to rival LSU, he traded the playoffs for an ego stroke.
The Ole Miss administration wouldn’t let an outbound Kiffin coach in the postseason, because who lets their ex keep living in the house for several weeks after they’ve wedded a new bride?
Kiffin enjoyed a taste of the simple life in Oxford, Mississippi. He did his hot yoga, bought the rocking chairs, quoted Chinese parables, strived to become a higher version of himself, spent years polishing his tarnished image, and got his family back together.
A charmed run, truly, that culminated with this year’s 11-1 team. He became undeniably successful.
At Ole Miss, the expectations weren’t as nearly demanding as those he experienced as either the coach of the Raiders, Tennessee or Southern California. In the absence of those pressures, Kiffin thrived like never before.
A hungry man’s gotta eat, though, and Kiffin couldn’t resist the allure of coaching another monster. That didn’t bring out his best side in the past, but, hey, he’s a man now. He’s 50! Better version of himself, or something like that.
Kiffin enjoys a good proverb. Here’s one from author Courtney Summers: People don’t change. They just get better at hiding who they really are.
I bet Kiffin won’t read that in the “The Pivot Year”!
Kiffin made some personal improvements, but, also, he’s a master of media messaging, and he’s quite skilled at curating a public image he desires. No amount of evolution or Ole Miss success stopped Kiffin from fantasizing about what he might achieve elsewhere. LSU counts as a great opportunity. He couldn’t resist it, even though it meant dipping out on the Ole Miss playoff team he built that’s good enough to play into January.
The narrative shifts now. No more cute, lovable underdog story for Kiffin at Ole Miss. No more celebrating seasons that end in bowl games. No more winning 70% of the time. LSU had that in Brian Kelly. It fired him.
Nobody cares about your yoga routine anymore. Nobody cares about your dog. LSU demands a national championship. Kiffin goes on the clock — starting now.
He’s as clever of a coach as he’s ever been. He’s mastered the portal arts. OK, so he’s never won a playoff game, but he’s also never had LSU’s fertile recruiting terrain, its national brand, its resources. Kelly thought the same thing, but Kiffin’s different. He can do this, right?
Even as Kiffin repeats old moves, he’s a mind suited for this new age. If you don’t believe that, just ask him.
Kiffin once left Tennessee to chase his dream job at Southern California. The dream shattered.
Now, he’s left a dream union with Ole Miss.
Kiffin didn’t need this change, but he wanted this change.
Kiffin was never more likable or successful than he became coaching the SEC’s underdog. There was just no way his inner renegade was ever going to allow that to be the final chapter to his story.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
