Because, naturally, the Lane Train won the college football offseason, Paul Finebaum declared Lane Kiffin the victor. Baton Rouge is now expected to be the place to be since Kiffin departed Ole Miss before the College Football Playoff to take over as the new head coach of the LSU Tigers.
When Kiffin quit the Rebels, who went on to come within a hair of winning the national championship, he made a lot of news. Kiffin has so far done just that, including bringing in QB Sam Leavitt from Arizona State and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton from Colorado, among others, as LSU sought a lift.
Therefore, maybe Kiffin can replicate that at LSU if he can lead Ole Miss to the playoffs, even if he doesn’t coach them during the postseason. Although the heat is on, Kiffin is at least a champion right now, according to Finebaum.
“Lane Kiffin, how many more times do I have to repeat that? ” Finebaum asked on Get Up. “His move, followed by the CFP mayhem, and then his introduction of the portal, gave him command of the conclusion of the season. You also mentioned Leavitt, which was a significant addition. He did such a great job in the portal that he absolutely needed a quarterback. However, it might be a challenge because he has so many new players on that squad, but I still believe LSU is a CFP team even with a tough schedule.
Since Garrett Nussmeier, the outgoing LSU quarterback, is headed to the NFL, he won’t be able to play for Kiffin in 2026. However, he spoke highly of what Kiffin will bring to the table this year.
“I believe, as (Paul) Finebaum said the other day, that he will have the last laugh,” Nussmeier stated. “They are going to win, in my opinion. ” He’s a good match for the culture of Louisiana and the players in the locker room, and they’re moving in the correct path. Clearly, he will accomplish amazing things since he is such an amazing X and Os football coach.
At the very least, Finebaum refrained from promising rapid results on the field. However, he emphasized that Kiffin is currently on a better footing than at any prior point in his career. As crucial elements in Kiffin’s advantage, he highlighted LSU’s resources, infrastructure, and perseverance.
“He’s never been in a location quite like this,” Finebaum said. “LSU is not the same as either Tennessee or Ole Miss. ” In a year, he doesn’t have to win the national title, but I believe he will make a run for it. He is in a location where all is working in his favor, he has a talented team, and he is an intelligent coach.
