BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Lane Kiffin knows what will dominate the conversation surrounding LSU’s trip to Oxford this weekend. He just doesn’t want it dominating his team.
“I know a lot is going to be made about me, but this is about the players being prepared really well and playing really well,” Kiffin said Monday. “This is about our guys in their first SEC game. It won’t be about all the other stuff and all the other noise.”
No. 7 LSU travels to face No. 8 Ole Miss on Saturday in Kiffin’s return to the program he previously coached.
“This is an unusual situation,” Kiffin said. “But this isn’t about me. I’m not going to tackle anybody. I’m not going to throw any touchdowns.”
Kiffin also dismissed the idea that the matchup should be viewed as a personal battle between himself and Ole Miss coach Pete Golding.
“Pete’s not gonna tackle anybody. I’m not gonna throw any touchdowns,” Kiffin said. “I used to say the same thing when we’d play coach Saban, and then he’d joke that he wouldn’t do very well in coverage at his age.”
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin reacts in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(Gerald Herbert | AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Golding delivered a similar message Monday.
“I think Ole Miss and LSU as a top-10 matchup, regardless of head coaches, is gonna be a headline,” Golding said.
Asked about his relationship with Kiffin and whether the two still talk, Golding laughed.
“From a friendship, yeah we do. From a football standpoint, we don’t share ideas,” Golding said.
Mississippi head coach Pete Golding looks onto the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)(George Walker IV | AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Kiffin said the stakes surrounding the rivalry go beyond his return.
“They’ve been playing this matchup for a long time and this is the first time since 1962 that both teams are in the Top 10,” Kiffin said. “That shows it’s the most relevant matchup of these teams in 64 years. That’s a really neat thing.”
Familiarity on both sidelines
The matchup also comes with an unusual amount of familiarity between LSU’s staff and Ole Miss personnel.
Kiffin said LSU’s knowledge of Ole Miss offensive players in particular makes the situation unusual, although he believes that familiarity could work both ways.
“I think in this way it benefits Ole Miss more than us in the coaching way,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin compared it to his time working under Nick Saban at Alabama, where hearing Saban discuss what created problems for his defenses later helped Kiffin identify concepts he could use against Alabama.
Kiffin also praised LSU defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen, who played at Ole Miss last season.
Kiffin said Umanmielen did a great job at Ole Miss and has continued developing early this season.
“Glad he’s on our side,” Kiffin said with a laugh.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)(Matthew Hinton | AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Mississippi head coach Pete Golding reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Charlotte in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)(Rogelio V. Solis | AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)LSU preparing for Trinidad Chambliss
Kiffin also singled out Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss as one of LSU’s biggest challenges.
“That’s a big challenge for us,” Kiffin said. “He doesn’t make many mistakes. A really mature quarterback. You are going to have to play really well for a long period of time. You’re dealing with someone with a lot of maturity and big plays in big time games.”
Kiffin said LSU’s defense will need sustained execution against Chambliss rather than relying on him to make mistakes.
Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) sets up to pass against Charlotte during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)(Rogelio V. Solis | AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) passes against Louisiana Tech in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(Gerald Herbert | AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Tigers addressing turnover problems
LSU enters SEC play after Kiffin said the Tigers spent Monday morning reviewing turnover problems from Saturday.
Kiffin said coaches and quarterbacks can receive too much credit or blame for turnovers and described LSU’s issues as an offense-wide problem.
He pointed to pressure that could have been handled better by the offensive line and the need for LSU to establish its running game.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin reacts in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(Gerald Herbert | AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Kiffin said there were positives in the way LSU moved the football, but the Tigers must do a better job finishing drives.
When addressing the emotions surrounding his return to Oxford, Kiffin said LSU has an opportunity to play freely.
“Really the pressure is on them,” Kiffin said. “You get to just go play.”
Kiffin gives update on Ed Orgeron
Kiffin also provided an update Monday on Ed Orgeron, saying the former LSU coach is improving after dealing with an issue that began during preseason practice.
“He’s feeling a little better,” Kiffin said. “That was a little bit scary, I won’t get into it. He means a lot to me.”
Kiffin said Orgeron is not “all the way” back but is doing better.
“He means a lot to me,” Kiffin said. “We’ve been through a lot together.”
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