Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter and several players disputed former head coach Lane Kiffin‘s departure story as he joined LSU earlier this week.

Kiffin, who led the Rebels to an 11-1 overall record and a playoff berth, announced Monday he would be joining the Tigers after weeks of speculation. Kiffin said he thought he was going to be allowed to coach the team in the playoffs before taking the job in Baton Rouge.

“It wasn’t until Sunday, that’s why things kept getting pushed back, that I was told that we couldn’t keep this thing in place and coach the playoffs,” Kiffin said in his LSU introduction press conference. “So I’d already made the decision at that point and informed them Saturday night that this is what we were going to do.”

Carter disputed this claim, appearing as a guest on SuperTalk Mississippi.

“There’s been a lot of things he’s said publicly that I’m not sure are totally accurate,” Carter said. “I think that both coach and his representation knew several weeks ago that coaching in the playoffs was not going to be an option if he was not the Ole Miss head coach.”

Kiffin also released a statement on X, saying his request to coach Ole Miss in the postseason “was denied by Keith Carter” and claimed the team also requested him to stay.

Carter once again challenged these claims.

“I don’t think the way he portrayed that meeting was accurate,” he said. “There was a lot of push back to him leaving. It was really one of those things where these guys knew they needed coaches to coach the game.

“I think begging for him to stay is certainly an overstatement.”

And Carter isn’t the only one to weigh in on Kiffin’s departure story. Several Ole Miss players, including linebacker Suntarine Perkins, responded to his former coach’s statement on X.

“That was not the message you said in the meeting room,” Perkins wrote. “Everyone that was in there can vouch on this.”

Offensive lineman Brycen Sanders also took to social media to refute Kiffin’s claims, saying “everyone that was in that room would disagree.”

Ole Miss will find out its opponents in the College Football Playoffs on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding will take over as head coach, the team announced.

It seems like many big-name college football head coaches still aren’t a fan of the NIL system, as college athletes have been able to make money off of their name, image and likeness for the past two years.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban, LSU head coach Brian Kelly and Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin have been vocally against NIL and have been pushing for more ways to regulate the system. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, along with the other head coaches mentioned, went to Washington, D.C., to make a case for the government to step in to regulate how college athletes can earn money off NIL.

Kelly also stated back in June that college athletics are “in jeopardy” and at a crossroads if NIL “doesn’t get fixed.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he is more against the “professionalization of college athletics” and “anything that devalues education.” He also had a one-liner that went viral in 2022, saying, “We built this program in God’s name, image, and likeness” when talking about the Tigers football program.

Kiffin, like Sweeney, is also against the “pay-for-play” phrase that best describes NIL for many, as the college athletes that are offered the most money often go to those schools or are paid off of fame and image with sponsors and partnerships.

“When this first came out, basically said, whatever programs have the most aggressive boosters with the most money are going to get the players,” Kiffin said at SEC Media Days on Thursday. “And now we are adding some states that you don’t have to follow the NCAA, and now the university can take their money and give it to the collective to give it to the players.”

“This is a disaster coming because you just legalized cheating, and you just told donors they can pay the players is what you did.”

LSU’s Olivia Dunne and Miami’s Cavinder twins, Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder, are extreme examples of the latter, as they net around seven-figure salaries on looks.

“Now we are seeing you really can get paid three times if you want to,” Kiffin said. “You can get paid coming out of high school. You can one-time transfer, go in, get the most money, and get paid again. And then you can grad transfer and then get paid again. Eventually, you’ll not be able to do that, I would think and have that leverage every semester to be able to do that. I’ve told them it’s an awesome time for them.”

College coaches, including Kiffin, know that players are taking every advantage of the system understandably with the negotiation periods while they are still in college.

“With NIL, you’ve got a lot of pay-for-play going on, and that is what it is,” Kiffin said. “Those two things combining, there’s not a system in place. I don’t think there are any other sports at any level that are like this, that, you every year, can opt into free agency. Twice a year.”

Last year, Kiffin shared a Fox News Digital story on Twitter about Saban reportedly letting a top recruit plus one of his players go after they asked for more than $1 million combined from the school.

“Someone with one of the best corners in the nation [in high school] came to me and asked if we’d pay them $800,000 for the player to sign here. I told him he can find another place to play,” Saban said, according to Baker High School coach Steve Normand. “I’m not paying a kid a bunch of NIL money before he earns it.”

“One of them wanted $500,000 and for us to get his girlfriend into law school at Alabama and pay for it. I showed him the door,” Saban reportedly said before the start of last season.

Many coaches agree with Kiffin and Saban, as the Alabama head coach does support the concept but is not fond of the deals, mentioning he feels the NCAA “needs more ways and means to control it because it’s getting out of hand.”

“I think a couple of things are of concern,” Saban said last August. “We allow alumni through collectives to get involved in recruiting and other things. That’s always something we’ve always guarded against in college football. I think what kind of competitive balance are we able to create if we allow that to happen, which is not going to be great for fans.”

It seems for now, college programs and coaches will have to be patient in how to handle the players and their potential NIL deals, as the answers are still few and far between with future legislation.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin accused a Texas Tech player of spitting and using racial slurs in an altercation with his players during the Texas Bowl Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after the game, which the Rebels lost, Kiffin was addressing his response to a dispute between multiple players after an Ole Miss player fumbled in the fourth quarter. The subsequent fight for possession intensified after the play to include arguing and shoving.

Ole Miss player Jordan Watkins received a flagrant penalty for the altercation, but Kiffin believed that it should have gone against Texas Tech player Dimitri Moore, who wears the same number as Watkins and was seen yelling at Ole Miss player Jayden Williams.

“They announce our 11, which is Jordan Watkins, who wasn’t in the fight,” Kiffin said. “It was their 11 that was fighting 71 and everybody knew because their own coaches were yelling at the guy.”

Kiffin went on to say that a racial slur had been used during the players’ argument. Moore and Williams are both Black.

“There was a racial slur involved, that’s not the point of what we’re talking about, [it’s] about the spitting part,” Kiffin said. “I brought our own 71 up to the officials, right or wrong, you see him crying? He’s not crying not because he got spit on, it’s because something was said.”

When reporters asked Kiffin to directly address the use of a racial slur, the coach clarified that he didn’t personally hear the comment in question.

Ole Miss went on to lose 42-25 to the Red Raiders, marking the fourth bowl game defeat of Kiffin’s college coaching career. Before his time with the Rebels, the coach worked at Florida Atlantic from 2017 to 2019, a comeback attempt after a marred tenure at USC from 2010 to 2013 that involved NCAA sanctions. He also coached at Tennessee for a year after a two-year stint in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.

Florida High quarterback Willie Taggart Jr. will be playing under his father Willie Taggart next season for Florida Atlantic University after making an announcement to sign with them Wednesday. Taggart Sr. had been hired as the Owls’ head coach in December after agreeing to a five-year contract worth $3.85 million.

Taggart Jr. was the first player to sign with FAU when signing day began Wednesday initially announcing his commitment last month. He’ll joined by another player with a famous father, Peter Warrick Jr. Warrick Jr. is the son of former Florida State legend Peter Warrick, who was a receiver for the Seminoles from 1995-1999.

Warrick Jr. is a three-star cornerback from Georgia and Taggart Jr. is a dual-threat quarterback who helped Florida High make the state Class 3A championship game this past season after compiling about 3100 passing and rushing yards combined with 30 total touchdowns.

Taggart Sr. will take over for former Owls’ coach Lane Kiffin who lead the team to an 11-3 record before leaving for Ole Miss. Taggart Sr. was fired by Florida State after 21 games as head coach.

FAU athletic director Brian White told ESPN how happy FAU was to land a coach like Taggart. “I couldn’t be more excited to have Coach Taggart on board to lead our football program,” White said in December. “Coach Taggart is a proven program builder who will develop strong relationships with our student-athletes and develop them as future leaders. His deep relationships around the state of Florida and the nation will be vital in recruiting as well. The traits he brings to the table will allow us to continue building upon our recent success.”

Lane Kiffin has helped reinvigorate Florida Atlantic’s football program in just one season, and now he is reaping the benefits.

Lane Kiffin and FAU contract extension news

The 42-year-old head coach has reportedly signed a contract extension with the Owls that will keep him with the team through 2027.

“This is further proof of FAU’s unbridled ambition,” FAU president John Kelly stated on Tuesday.

Florida Atlantic (11-3, 1st in C-USA East) defeated Akron 50-3 on Tuesday night in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl for the team’s tenth straight victory. The Owls were undefeated (8-0) in their conference this year.

“We expect to play this way, and we’re just getting started,” Kiffin said after the bowl win. “This ain’t about me. I feel great for our players and fans. They haven’t won in a long time here.

“This has got to be the hottest team in the country.”

FAU’s 11 wins are the most in program history for the Owls in their 13 years as an FBS school. Before Kiffin arrived this year from Alabama — where he had spent three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach — Florida Atlantic had suffered through three consecutive 3-9 seasons.

The Owls’ ten-game win streak is the second longest in the country behind the 12-game run put together by Central Florida.

Kiffin’s initial deal, which was for five years, paid him $950,000 annually. His new contract will run through December 2027. According to USA Today, Kiffin is ranked 80th among FBS head coaches in terms of pay for 2017.

Kiffin began his coaching career as an assistant at Fresno State in 1997. His longest tenure was at USC, where he worked in different types of assistant roles. He was also the Trojans’ head coach, but was fired five games into his fourth season.

Kelly noted in a recent interview with ESPN Kiffin’s impact on FAU has not just been limited to football. The school’s president said out-of-state applications for the 2018 fall semester were up 35 percent.

Kiffin has also worked with two NFL teams: the Jacksonville Jaguars (2000) and the Oakland Raiders (2007-2008).

KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 25: Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The University of Houston is finalizing a decision to name Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin as its next football coach, Dan Wolken of USA Today Sports is reporting.

Houston Closing In On Alabama OC Lane Kiffin As Next Head Coach

The decision is pending a Thursday meeting at which school president Renu Khator will approve Kiffin, according to two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move has not yet been officially announced.

Should he be hired by Houston, Kiffin would be replacing Tom Herman, who left for Texas after just two seasons.

As of Wednesday, Houston had scrapped LSU coach Les Miles as a candidate, and was still choosing between Kiffin and its internal candidates, particularly defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley had been a candidate but pulled out Wednesday.

Kiffin, 41, was USC’s coach for three-plus seasons and at Tennessee for one before that. His career record is 35-21. He was terminated by USC five games into the 2013 season but ended up at Alabama in 2014 and tried to regain his reconstruct his reputation.

The Houston Cougars (9-3, fourth in West) lost their final regular-season game to Memphis 48-44 on Black Friday. They won their three previous games against Louisville, Tulane and Central Florida, however.

Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage stated that he believes if Kiffin leaves Alabama, he won’t coach in the playoffs.

“I would anticipate Steve Sarkisian would be the play-caller for the Washington game and perhaps the national title game if Alabama wins,” Savage, who is also an analyst for the Crimson Tide Radio Network, said Thursday.

The Crimson Tide is set to play Washington at the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31.

KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 25: Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

University of Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin announced to FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman Sunday that he and his wife Layla are seeking a divorce.

Alabama’s Lane Kiffin Confirms Divorce From Wife Layla

“After a lot of careful thought and consideration, Layla and I have mutually decided to divorce,” Kiffin said. “We are fully committed to our kids’ future being our No. 1 priority. We will maintain an amicable relationship with respect for each other as we raise these three wonderful children. We will have no further comments and appreciate respect for our family’s privacy.”

Kiffin, 40, is coming off a national championship at Alabama. He is also a former head coach for Tennessee, USC and the Oakland Raiders.

KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 25: Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team has a lot to be excited about this year, donning a 9-1 record currently in the SEC conference and the No. 3 ranking in the country according to the College Football Playoff rankings. This excitement was surely shown during Saturday’s game against Mississippi State.

Alabama’s offensive coordinator Lane Kifffin is known to raise his hands in the touchdown signal used by referees when he knows that a play call that is executed works perfectly. But during one play, Kiffin changed his celebration to a stiff arm after watching running back Derrick Henry do the same thing during his 65-yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter.

The touchdown would seal the game for the Crimson Tide as they went onto win the game with a 31-6 victory.

Photo: KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 25: Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee.