There were already multiple national championship-level college football programs searching for new head coaches for 2026. Then, on Sunday, LSU fired Brian Kelly, adding another to the ledger.
Even when Penn State and Florida are considered, college football analyst David Pollack believes LSU’s opening “goes right to the top of the list.” As a result, he expects the Tigers to chase the best possible coaches, starting with Lane Kiffin.
“Lane Kiffin, I think it’s going to be very hard to say no to this job,” Pollack said on his See Ball Get Ball podcast. “I said I didn’t think he would leave for Florida… but this is a different animal. I would make it harder for him to say no.”
Pollack dismissed any potential fit concerns, saying that winning trumps all. There were questions about Brian Kelly’s fit in Baton Rouge when he was hired, but beyond adopting a Southern accent, it didn’t seem like he truly embraced life in the Bayou. If he had won at a higher level, he’d still be there.
For now, Kiffin has the Ole Miss Rebels (7-1, 4-1 SEC) rolling toward a College Football Playoff berth. Ole Miss has no ranked opponents left on its schedule and doesn’t leave the state for its 1 remaining road game (at Mississippi State). Barring a surprise loss, they should make the CFP for the first time.
The Rebels host South Carolina this Saturday (7:00 p.m. E.T., ESPN). LSU is on bye before a meeting with Alabama in Week 11.
