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Lane Kiffin cancels scheduled interview on ESPN College GameDay

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz3 hours agoNickSchultz_7

ESPN College GameDay had a change of plans for Saturday’s show at the SEC Championship. New LSU coach Lane Kiffin canceled his scheduled interview in Atlanta, he announced via social media.

ESPN previously announced College GameDay would have an exclusive interview with Kiffin after he took over at LSU. It was one of the headliners of Saturday’s show, which will take place ahead of Alabama vs. Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander added there does not appear to be any plans for Kiffin to do a remote interview, either.

LSU introduced Kiffin as its next head coach on Sunday, just days before National Signing Day. Friday night, he reposted a post from Rivals about landing top-rated recruit Lamar Brown and said there some things to “finish out” in Baton Rouge.

“Welp had to stay in BR and still finishing some things out with players and a coach!!” Kiffin wrote Friday night. “Won’t make it to Atlanta for @CollegeGameDay. #WhatAGreatFriday”

LSU signed 14 players on National Signing Day as part of a recruiting class that ranks No. 11 in the country, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. Brown – a Five Star Plus+ ATH – is the headliner as the No. 1 overall recruit from the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. Five-star defensive lineman Richard Anderson is also part of the group, giving Kiffin two five-star signees out of the gate.

Kiffin has also been busy trying to build out his staff at LSU. The expectation is Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will join him in Baton Rouge, though he returned to coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff under new head coach Pete Golding.

But there’s still the question of defensive coordinator at LSU. Kiffin is working to retain Blake Baker for the role, On3’s Pete Nakos previously reported, but Baker is a name to watch for the Tulane head coach job. He took over as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2024 under Brian Kelly and helped the Tigers become one of the top units in the SEC this season.

In addition, On3 reported Lane Kiffin is also in talks to add a defensive assistant to the staff. It’s been an eventful week for the new LSU head coach as he settles in to his new digs.