Kiffin takes LSU job, Ole Miss promotes DC Golding

Finally, the most drawn-out college football coaching saga in recent memory has mercifully come to a close.

After taking the entire day Saturday to make his decision, Lane Kiffin will head to LSU and become the new coach of the Tigers, he announced Sunday.

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding will remain at Ole Miss and become the permanent head coach, the school said in a news release.

The major delay in Kiffin's decision was based around his desire to remain with Ole Miss through the postseason. He said the school denied that request. The Rebels essentially clinched their spot in the College Football Playoff with a dominant Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State on Friday.

The idea of Kiffin staying with the team through the playoff despite taking the LSU job was something the coach voiced during a Saturday meeting with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter and chancellor Glenn Boyce. However, the university administration pushed back against that idea since the Tigers are a conference rival of the Rebels, sources told Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.

Ole Miss also had an outside chance at playing in the SEC title game. However, Alabama's late touchdown versus Auburn on Saturday night secured that spot for the Crimson Tide.

The LSU position became available when the Tigers fired Brian Kelly in his fourth season with the program - a move that eventually cost them the full $53-million buyout. Florida was also highly interested in Kiffin before the Gators landed on Jon Sumrall.

One can debate whether the LSU job is truly better than the Ole Miss position in 2025 and beyond. However, the history of title-winning teams in Baton Rouge is undeniable. Kelly became the first coach since before Nick Saban that didn't win a championship during his tenure with LSU.