"Last month, as some of the biggest college football brands pursued Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, a staff member polled the team's assistant coaches about where they wanted to be in the 2026 season. The coaches discussed four options: Remain at Ole Miss, where they had built a legitimate College Football Playoff contender; leave for SEC rivals Florida or LSU; or take over Florida State, which according to people with knowledge of the search, was making a stealth move to poach Kiffin."
"The entire defensive coaching staff, led by coordinator Pete Golding, preferred to stay at Ole Miss, which was on the verge of its first 11-win regular season and CFP appearance, two sources told ESPN. All but one offensive assistant wanted to leave for either Florida or LSU, which historically had enjoyed more success than Ole Miss, but had fired their coaches after their teams struggled this season."
A staff member polled Ole Miss assistant coaches about their 2026 preferences, producing a split: defensive coaches wanted to stay while nearly all offensive assistants sought moves to Florida or LSU or Florida State. The coaches weighed four options including remaining at Ole Miss, moving to SEC rivals Florida or LSU, or taking over Florida State amid a quiet recruiting effort. The defensive staff, led by coordinator Pete Golding, preferred stability as Ole Miss neared an 11-win regular season and potential CFP berth. After mounting tension, Lane Kiffin agreed to become LSU's coach, abandoning an 11-1 Ole Miss and prompting fan outrage given the rivalry.
Read at ESPN.com
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