LSU's high-stakes poaching of Lane Kiffin has a new critic: Louisiana's own governor. Jeff Landry recently admitted regret over the tactics used to secure the $91 million coach. His admission sheds new light on one of college football's most controversial moves.

“The only way to get Lane Kiffin was (to) do what we did. I didn’t like it. I don't think it was fair to his players. It wasn't fair to him,” Landry said as per a report by NOLA news. 

Kiffin’s shocking decision made headlines, and he was criticized for leaving a 12-1 playoff team in late 2025. He signed a seven-year contract worth $91 million with LSU.

“It certainly was not fun," the coach said on Thursday. "To have to go out there and poach a coach before he had an opportunity to coach a group of kids that he brought up there that I know absolutely loved him and loved the program over at Ole Miss and not allow him to finish the season out, those are the kind of guardrails we need (in college sports).”

After signing that deal, Kiffin became one of the highest-paid college football coaches. 

But even that aspect of his hiring started controversy. After his introductory press conference, Kiffin said that he paid no heed to the numbers, though this number placed him among the top-3 coaches paid in the league.

“I actually asked today about my contract. Not the numbers. I still don’t know them,” he answered to a reporter who brought up finances and NIL. 

Reports alluded that Kiffin abruptly ended his 55-19 tenure at Ole Miss for fame and the higher paycheck. Players like Zxavian Harris publicly expressed their discontent. He called the move a “slap in the face” and stated that Kiffin tried to “steal our shine.”

Kiffin Faced Backlash From the Rebels

The 50-year-old had claimed that the Rebels players had asked him to coach them for the playoffs.

However, offensive lineman Bryson Sanders, tackle Paris Wilkins, and linebacker Suntarine Perkins refuted his claims. 

On X, they also stated that Kiffin's details about the final meeting with the players were not accurate, which Ole Miss AD Keith Carter told him not to attend.

Furthermore, according to The Sporting News, Kiffin reportedly even encouraged players to enter the transfer portal over calls and texts. 

According to the same outlet, this coincided with another set of poaching allegations after Kiffin brought around six key offensive coaches with him to LSU. QB coach Charlie Weis is one of them. Kiffin claimed these were unretained employees.

Yet, in a matchup that is for the history books, the Rebels dominated the Tigers and defeated them 24-19 in September for the first time since 1965.

Despite his success with the Rebels, Kiffin left rather unceremoniously, marking a surprising end to an impressive career. 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote