Ole Miss CFP staff uncertain as Kiffin plots LSU transfer period

NEW ORLEANS — As No. 6 Ole Miss celebrated its historic 39-34 victory over No. 3 Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals Thursday at the Sugar Bowl, the shadow of former coach Lane Kiffin continued to loom over the program.

Sources told ESPN Thursday night that it remains unclear how many Ole Miss assistants, who join Kiffin at LSU, will be allowed to stay with the Rebels when they face No. 10 Miami next Thursday in a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald and running backs coach Kevin Smith all signed contracts to coach with Kiffin at LSU.

With the transfer portal opening Friday, sources told ESPN the Rebels aren’t sure they’ll have all of those assistants with them when they face the Hurricanes in six days.

A source said some assistants apparently were reluctant to leave an Ole Miss team that was two wins away from winning a national championship.

“There are going to be fireworks,” an Ole Miss source told ESPN. “We always knew this could be a possibility.”

Of the assistants headed to LSU, only Weis returned with the Rebels to Oxford after Thursday’s game. Sources told ESPN after the Rebels’ victory that Weis was expected to coach the Fiesta Bowl. But sources also said a plan was in place for LSU’s remaining assistants to return to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to help the Tigers prepare to welcome prospects into the transfer portal this weekend.

Kiffin was named LSU’s coach on November 30. Former defensive coordinator Pete Golding, who was named Kiffin’s replacement just hours after Kiffin’s abrupt departure, coached the Rebels in both CFP victories.

“Everything has been extremely clear and transparent between me and Pete Golding through constant communication, including a plan throughout this historic championship run,” Kiffin told ESPN Friday morning. “What an incredible night for all the Ole Miss players, coaches and fans.”

Future LSU coaches returned to Ole Miss to help the Rebels earn a 41-10 victory over No. 11 Tulane in a CFP first-round game in Oxford, Miss., on Dec. 20. They were also in New Orleans this week as the Rebels prepared to take on Georgia.

Also leaving for LSU are senior analyst/passing game specialist Dane Stevens and graduate assistant Sawyer Jordan, who helps with the slot receivers.

Kiffin considered attending the Sugar Bowl and lobbied to appear on “College GameDay” or another program during the ESPN broadcast of the game. He ended up skipping the Sugar Bowl to attend the LSU women’s basketball game Thursday night.

While considering job offers from Florida, Florida State and LSU for weeks, Kiffin had asked Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn Boyce and athletic director Keith Carter to allow him to coach the Rebels in the CFP even if he took another job.

Boyce and Carter made it clear throughout the process that Kiffin would not coach at CFP if he left for another school, sources told ESPN.

In a social media post, Kiffin said the Ole Miss administration denied his request “although the team also asked him to allow me to continue coaching them so they can better maintain their high level of performance.” Some Ole Miss players took issue with Kiffin’s statement on social media.

After the Rebels beat the Bulldogs to win the second CFP game in school history, senior defensive tackle Zxavian Harris said Kiffin was once again trying to steal the spotlight from one of the greatest teams in Ole Miss history.

“Yeah, he was just trying to steal our shine,” Harris said. “That’s all he’s trying to do. That’s all he’s trying to do is steal our shine.”

Harris said Kiffin’s abrupt departure from Ole Miss in the middle of a CFP race was like a “slap in the face.”

“Like a slap in the face and a backhand,” Harris said. “He was trying to be a troll. We’re going to troll him. We have something for him.”