Paul Finebaum reacts to Lane Kiffin intending to leave Ole Miss for LSU

With LSU expected to sign Lane Kiffin to a new head coaching deal, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum reacted to quite the “odyssey” for the coach. Kiffin is set to leave Ole Miss, but the hang up as On3 reported, is his desire to finish out the year with the Rebels.

Ole Miss is likely getting a high seed in the College Football Playoff, finishing the season 11-1. But since Alabama beat Auburn Saturday night, the Rebels will not be able to play in the SEC Championship.

So now, that leaves weeks between Ole Miss playing the Egg Bowl and a first round game in the CFP. At this point, it looks like Kiffin is heading to LSU and won’t coach up Ole Miss one more time, so long as he signs the contract.

“Well, it concludes one of the greatest odysseys we’ve ever seen in college football coaching with him talking to at least or talking about going to at least three different schools, Ole Miss, LSU and Florida,” Finebaum said on SportsCenter. “This is the one that most people coalesced around in the final days. But what took so long is the question and most people believe that Kiffin, meeting with the chancellor yesterday and the AD, was lobbying to either coach in the SEC championship game, which would have happened had Auburn beaten Alabama, and ultimately the playoffs, which will happen a couple weeks later.

“They apparently did not want him to do that. He tried to lobby them to have the team decide they apparently chose not to do that as well.”

The Kiffin saga heated up Saturday night. Per Yahoo Sports‘ Ross Dellenger, LSU executives and Kiffin’s representatives held a call following the Tigers’ 17-13 loss to No. 8 Oklahoma on Saturday. The University is sending two planes to Oxford on Sunday for Kiffin, his family, and others.

Kiffin was been highly sought after this season following a remarkable year with Ole Miss. Things reportedly went south with potential Florida negotiations earlier this week, leaving LSU as the most likely potential destination for the Ole Miss coach. But the logistics of a potential move, should Kiffin accept the Tigers gig, have remained a hurdle.

“I’m told if he wanted to stay he would have already said so,” ESPN’s Marty Smith said. “One sticking point still being considered, I’m told: If he did leave, whether or not he’ll coach the Ole Miss Rebels in the College Football Playoff.”