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Nick Saban’s Strong Message to Lane Kiffin Draws Attention
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- Nick Saban’s Strong Message to Lane Kiffin Draws Attention
Lane Kiffin's move to the LSU Tigers came after nearly six seasons at the helm of the Ole Miss Rebels , where he posted a 55–19 record and guided the program to four 10-win seasons. That included the last one, where he put together an 11-1 record before leaving the program on Nov. 30.
Kiffin's decision to leave Ole Miss before the end of the season wasn't simple, especially with the Rebels headed into the College Football Playoff under new head coach Pete Golding.
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With Golding at the helm, the Rebels made a semifinal run after upsetting the Georgia Bulldogs and Tulane Green Wave, only losing to the CFP final-bound Miami Hurricanes.
The LSU job opened after the firing of Brian Kelly midway through his fourth season. The Florida Gators also pursued Kiffin, but LSU emerged as the more appealing opportunity. Kiffin's eventual agreement to a reported seven-year, $91 million contract made him one of the three highest-paid coaches in the sport.
Kiffin has often credited the influence of coaching mentors like Pete Carroll and Nick Saban in making career decisions. This week, during a speech in Baton Rouge, Kiffin recalled being "torn" at the time of moving to LSU and reaching out to Saban, the former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach, for guidance.
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"When I called Coach Saban and talked it through with him, he said, 'You know, Lane, you'll always regret if you don't go to LSU. It's the best job in America,'" Kiffin said. "When he said that, that really made the decision for me."
Kiffin added that the move has "pushed" him beyond his comfort zone and credited LSU's environment for driving him daily.
"As I've looked at it, it has pushed me," Kiffin said. "It has got me out of a comfort zone that we were doing amazing things, but you come here and feel the power of the place, and it drives you every day to even go to another level."
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Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban greets former Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin.© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Saban, speaking after Kiffin's departure while appearing on ESPN's "College GameDay," emphasized that he never gives direct instructions but tries to offer perspective.
"The first thing I ask a coach if he's contemplating jobs is 'What do you want to do?' I want them to follow their heart, in terms of what they want to accomplish, what they want to do. I never tell anybody what they should do," Saban said. "I just try to bring some thought into it so that they can make good decisions."
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LSU officially introduced Kiffin on Dec. 1. Since then, Kiffin has rebuilt his staff , secured the No. 1 transfer class — including landing former Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt from the portal — and will enter the 2026 season with the Tigers carrying gaudy expectations.
Related: Dan Lanning Makes Unexpected Decision After Jordan Seaton Cancels Oregon Visit
Related: LSU's Lane Kiffin Exchanges Messages with No. 1 Transfer Portal Player from Colorado
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
