BATON ROUGE, La. - On a key evening for collegiate sports in Louisiana, Lane Kiffin, the recently named head coach of LSU football, was seen attending the No. 5 ranked LSU women's basketball game Thursday night. His attendance coincided with the College Football Playoff quarterfinal match at the Sugar Bowl, where his former team, Ole Miss, went head-to-head against Georgia.
Before the game against No. 11 Kentucky commenced, Kiffin appeared on the court alongside LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey. The two emerged from the tunnel holding hands, eliciting an enthusiastic response from the crowd. In a moment shared visibly for the fans, Mulkey acknowledged Kiffin by lifting her left hand toward him, as they both raised their joined hands in the air.
Reflecting on Kiffin’s gesture, Mulkey remarked, "He was very gracious to come over here and let the LSU fans acknowledge him. They have the transfer portal opening tomorrow, so I know he’s working. I appreciated him coming." Despite this notable presence, the LSU women’s basketball team was unable to maintain their undefeated run. The Tigers, who had started their season undefeated with 14 consecutive wins, lost to Kentucky 80-78. The narrow loss was sealed by a last-second three-pointer from Kentucky’s Tonie Morgan.
While Kiffin was present to support LSU, his old team, Ole Miss, began their College Football Playoff game against Georgia at approximately the same time. The Rebels emerged victorious with a 39-34 win in a thrilling encounter.
Following his acceptance of the LSU head coaching position, Kiffin had expressed a desire to lead Ole Miss through the College Football Playoff. However, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter declined his request to remain with the Rebels for the playoff run, despite player appeals for Kiffin to continue coaching to sustain their competitive performance, as Kiffin mentioned through a social media statement.
Kiffin's contract details reveal a significant financial advancement; at Ole Miss, his yearly salary totaled $9 million. LSU offered a seven-year contract averaging about $13 million annually, coupled with commitments to ensure the football program receives substantial monetary backing for player compensation. This move marks a pivotal step in LSU's efforts to stabilize and enhance its football program after parting ways with previous head coach Brian Kelly midseason.
Kelly’s tenure at LSU was marked by a 34-14 record and included leading the Tigers to the 2022 Southeastern Conference title game. Nevertheless, the team did not qualify for the College Football Playoff during his first three seasons. His dismissal followed a 49-25 defeat against the No. 3 Texas A&M, which resulted in a 5-3 overall and 2-3 SEC record for LSU.
The current sports season continues to capture attention across collegiate athletics, with closely watched developments not only in football coaching but also within women's basketball, reflecting broader dynamics within college sports programs.