Lane Kiffin decision: ESPN gives latest following Iron Bowl result, reveals status for coaching College Football Playoff

Lane Kiffin is likely headed to LSU, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The college football insider joined the halftime show of a contest between Notre Dame and Stanford to give the latest on the Ole Miss coach’s decision.

He said his sources have indicated that the Tigers are the likely landing spot for Kiffin rather than staying in Oxford. He also revealed that Kiffin is not expected to coach the Rebels through the College Football Playoff if he does take the LSU job.

“Sources I just spoke to within the last half hour have told me that there’s an overwhelming expectation that Kiffin is the next head coach at LSU,” Thamel said. “He has yet to sign the deal, but I was just told by a source within the last half hour that they would be shocked if Lane Kiffin did not end up signing there late tonight or early tomorrow.

“As for the second part, will he coach Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff? Right now, that answer is no. There were discussion today. Lane Kiffin met with AD Keith Carter at the chancellor’s house for about two hours this evening. Then they departed. They waited for the results of the Iron Bowl. As of right now — and this is Lane Kiffin, things can change — the overwhelming expectation is that he’s the next coach at LSU and Ole Miss is going to the College Football Playoff, where it’s going to host a game with an interim coach.”

In addition to the report from Thamel, ESPN’s Marty Smith reported that Kiffin is expected to hold a meeting with his team at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Kiffin will then make a public announcement on his decision.

The reports that Kiffin will not finish out the season as the Rebels’ coach contradict what he said previously. Kiffin stated last week that it was his intention to finish out the year at Ole Miss regardless of if he planned to stay beyond this season.

The Rebels ended the regular season with an 11-1 record and seem to be a lock for the College Football Playoff. They currently sit at No. 6 in the CFP rankings and will not play in the SEC Championship, which is set to feature Georgia and Alabama.

Before then, though, the college football world will gather together to anxiously await Kiffin’s decision on Sunday. If he is indeed leaving, it will be interesting to see how the College Football Playoff committee treats Ole Miss without its coach.