Lane Kiffin is gone from Ole Miss, but certainly not forgotten.
The former Rebels head coach was baffled by his abrupt departure from the team — he left in November to coach at LSU despite his former team clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff after one of the best seasons in program history — and it appears some players still aren’t happy with the controversial decision.
Following the Rebels’ 39-34 win over the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 1, Ole Miss defensive tackle Xavian Harris he said ESPN that Kiffin was trying to “steal our shine.”
“That’s all he’s trying to do,” Harris said. “That’s all he’s tried to do is steal our shine.”
New LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s former players at Ole Miss seem to disagree with their former coach’s recollection of his last meeting with the team. While Kiffin, 50, said in a statement released Sunday, Nov. 30, that Rebels players wanted him to continue coaching the team through the upcoming College Football Playoff, several team members (…)
Harris continued, calling his former head coach a “troll” and saying his departure was “a slap in the face.”
“Like a slap and the reverse,” Harris said. “He was trying to be a troll. We’re going to troll him. We’ve got something for him.”
With the victory in the Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss will face the University of Miami in the semifinals on Thursday, January 8th.
The Ole Miss Rebels pose with the trophy after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs during the quarterfinals of the 2025 College Football Playoff Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesKiffin accepted the head coaching job at LSU after six seasons at Ole Miss. According to Kiffin, he applied to coach the Rebels during the College Football Playoffs, but the school denied his request.
Ole Miss is now led by Pete Golding, who was named permanent head coach shortly after Kiffin’s departure.
As Ole Miss was taking the field against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Kiffin he was seen holding hands with LSU’s head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey at his party in Baton Rouge.
“He was very kind to come here,” Mulkey told reporters. “The (transfer) portal opens tomorrow. So I know he’s probably working. For him to come and let the LSU fans recognize that was really nice, and I appreciated him coming and walking out on the floor with me.”
Kiffin was considering attending the Sugar Bowl to support his former team along with Louisiana’s governor. Jeff Landrybut did not make it to the Caesars Superdome for the game.
However, he took to social media to congratulate his former team after the win.
“What a great ending!!! So much fun!!” Kiffin published through X along with photos of him and his family celebrating the win. “Just two more to go @OleMissFB.”
Along with winning, it might as well have been celebrating a bigger salary.
Kiffin earned a $500,000 bonus (paid by LSU) after Ole Miss beat Georgia in the quarterfinals. As part of Kiffin’s departure from college, LSU agreed to cover his full bonus structure from his Ole Miss contract.
If Ole Miss beats Miami in the semifinals, Kiffin will earn another $750,000, with a $1 million bonus waiting for him if the Rebels win the College Football National Championship.
The winner of the Ole Miss-Miami game will face the winner of the Jan. 9 game between Indiana University and the University of Oregon on Jan. 19.