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Lane Kiffin said in his farewell to the Ole Miss post that the team’s players asked athletic director Keith Carter to let him stay, but that claim is being refuted by a Rebel starter.
Kiffin said in his post that he requested to “complete a historic six-season run with this year’s team by leading Ole Miss to the playoffs,” but Carter denied it “despite the team also asking him to allow me to continue coaching.”
Starting center Brycen Sanders called out Kiffin bluntly, citing his X post.
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Ole Miss Rebels offensive lineman Brycen Sanders during the college football game between the LSU Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels on Sept. 27, 2025, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. (Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“‘Even though the team asked me to keep training.’ I think everyone in that room would disagree,” Sanders posted.
It’s worth noting that Sanders misquoted Kiffin, but it’s pretty clear how some players feel about Kiffin’s departure and position.
“Let them know. Every single person,” fellow offensive lineman Jayden Williams said in response to Sanders’ post.
Linebacker Suntarine Perkins added: “That was not the message you said in the meeting room. Everyone who was there can attest to that.”
Kiffin left the Rebels for LSU after weeks of speculation. He was introduced as the team’s head coach on Monday, a day after being booed while boarding a private jet from Oxford.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 2, 2024. (Nelson Chenault/Image Images)
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Kiffin’s offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis Jr., left Ole Miss to stay with Kiffin, but will continue to coach Ole Miss during the College Football Playoffs.
“Last night we went through a lot with [Ole Miss athletic director] Keith Carter is trying to find a way to make this playoff run work so he can coach the team. And at the end of the day, that’s your decision and I totally respect it. “I understand that decision,” Kiffin said. he told ESPN about Carter’s decision not to let him finish the season as Rebels coach. “I wish the team the best of luck, I wish I were a coach… I just hope they play very well and win the national championship.”
Kiffin will reportedly earn $13 million per season with the Tigers, making him the second-highest-paid college coach in the country behind. Georgia Smart Kirby.
LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin speaks at the South Stadium Club at Tiger Stadium on December 1, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Matthew Hinton/Image Images)
Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding was named head coach to replace Kiffin at Oxford.
