LSU coaching search: Report confirms Lane Kiffin's family toured Baton Rouge amid interest in job

LSU is still targeting Ole Miss‘ Lane Kiffin to be its next head coach. On Monday, NOLA.com’s Wilson Alexander reported that LSU officials “arranged for a plane to pick up several of Kiffin’s family members Monday in Oxford, Mississippi.” They reportedly flew into Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and toured the city.

[NEW: On3 has the latest intel on Lane Kiffin’s pending decision]

Kiffin’s family also traveled to Gainesville on Sunday, per On3’s Pete Nakos, Brett McMurphy and Chris Low. Kiffin’s name has repeatedly appeared in reporting on LSU’s coaching search since the school fired Brian Kelly on Oct. 26. However, analysts such as Paul Finebaum have posited that Kiffin would be more likely to leave Ole Miss for Florida than LSU.

Nonetheless, it appears Kiffin is taking LSU’s interest seriously. In fairness, most experts agree LSU is the most desirable of the job openings on the market. Each of the three head coaches before Brian Kelly at LSU won a national title.

Moreover, the school boasts strong NIL funding and excellent facilities. With its excellent NIL backing, LSU football reeled in the No. 2 class in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings this past offseason. While LSU’s NIL capabilities could be enticing to Kiffin, he’s previously said his own salary will not play a role in his decision.

“Just so you know, because you haven’t known me very long, Pat, I have never made a decision based off money, nor will I,” Kiffin said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in October. “For a lot of people, they’re just like, ‘Well, money, and it does this and does that.’

“I’ve seen too many examples in life where money does not buy happiness. So I’m never going to make a decision off of money, nor do I care about it. [My agent] Jimmy Sexton gets really mad when I say that. He’s like, ‘We got to get this. We got to get this.’ And, I’m like, ‘Jimmy, I don’t care.’ And he goes, ‘I do!’”

Kiffin is currently in his sixth season at the helm of Ole Miss. He’s amassed 54-19 overall record and a 31-17 mark in conference play while leading the program.

The Rebels are currently having their best season yet under Lane Kiffin. After defeating Florida on Saturday, Ole Miss improved to 10-1 on the season and 6-1 in conference play. Even if the Rebels lose in their regular-season finale, they are expected to appear in the College Football Playoff.

It would be Ole Miss’ first-ever appearance in the CFP. Meanwhile, LSU hasn’t returned to the CFP since winning the national title in 2019. Clearly, the Tigers are invested in bringing in a coach who can return the program to former heights.