If you’ve spent any time on "Ole Miss Twitter" or followed the chaos of the SEC coaching carousel recently, you know that Lane Kiffin is basically the main character of college football. He’s the "Portal King," a certified troll, and the man who just moved to Baton Rouge to lead the LSU Tigers. But for all the talk about his play-calling and his NIL deals, the internet is perpetually obsessed with one specific question: who is Lane Kiffin dating?
The answer is actually a lot more wholesome—and complicated—than the rumors about "Joey Freshwater" would have you believe.
For a long time, the name on everyone’s lips was Sally Rychlak. She’s an Ole Miss alum, a former cheerleader, and she works in major gifts for SMU. Back in early 2023, things seemed pretty official. She’d post birthday tributes for him on Twitter, they’d go on vacations, and fans just assumed that was the new First Lady of Oxford. But then, things got quiet. Real quiet.
By the time 2025 rolled around, the "Sally" era seemed to have faded into the background to make room for a plot twist nobody saw coming.
The Reconnection: Lane and Layla Kiffin
Here is what most people get wrong about Lane's current status. While everyone was looking for a new girlfriend, Lane was actually busy mending fences with the woman he was married to for 12 years: Layla Kiffin.
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Honestly, it’s been one of the biggest "will-they-won't-they" sagas in sports. They divorced back in 2016, a split that Lane at the time called mutual and amicable. Usually, in the high-stakes world of coaching, that’s the end of the story. But early in 2025, Lane started dropping breadcrumbs on Instagram. He posted a photo of Layla for her birthday. Then came a "Ride or Die" post with a woman’s hand making a heart—which their daughter, Landry, basically confirmed was her mom with a shocked "Omg" comment.
Why this reconciliation matters
Fast forward to 2026, and it’s basically an open secret that Lane and Layla are back together. When Lane accepted the LSU job in late 2025, Layla wasn't just in the background; she was on the private jet. She was touring Baton Rouge with him. She was standing next to him at the introductory press conference.
- The Family Unit: They have three kids—Landry, Presley, and Knox.
- The Living Situation: Reports from Sports Illustrated and People indicate that Layla and their son Knox moved to Oxford to be with Lane before the 2025 season, and they've now followed him to Louisiana.
- Legal Status: To be clear, they are still technically divorced. There hasn't been a "second wedding" announcement yet, but in terms of who he is "dating" or "with," Layla is the partner by his side.
The Landry Kiffin and Whit Weeks Connection
You can’t talk about who Lane is dating without mentioning the awkward family dinner that’s currently happening in the Kiffin household. Lane’s oldest daughter, Landry, is a massive social media personality and an Ole Miss student. She’s also dating Whit Weeks.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Whit is an All-SEC linebacker for LSU.
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Yeah. Read that again.
Before Lane even took the LSU job, his daughter was dating one of the best players on the team he was about to coach. It’s a level of drama that even Yellowstone couldn't script. In early 2026, Whit announced he’d be returning to LSU for his senior season specifically to play under his "future father-in-law." Lane even trolled Whit on Instagram for his birthday recently.
It’s a bizarre, tight-knit circle. You’ve got Lane and Layla reunited, their daughter dating the star linebacker, and their son Knox enrolling in high school right there in Baton Rouge. It’s less "bachelor coach" and more "family man" these days.
Has He Changed?
People love to bring up the "Joey Freshwater" persona—the alias Lane supposedly used to hit on women back in his Alabama days. It’s a funny meme, sure. But the Lane Kiffin of 2026 is a different guy. He’s been vocal about his sobriety, noting he’s been sober for over four years now. He does hot yoga. He talks about personal growth.
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Is he still a troll? Absolutely. He’ll post a cryptic photo of a Pelican or a plane to mess with fans during a coaching search. But when it comes to his romantic life, he seems to have traded the chaos for the familiar.
Current Status at a Glance
| Person | Relationship to Lane | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Layla Kiffin | Ex-Wife / Reconciled Partner | Living together in Baton Rouge; present at all major events. |
| Sally Rychlak | Former Girlfriend | No longer pictured together; relationship seemingly ended in 2024. |
| Landry Kiffin | Daughter | Living the "WAG" life as Whit Weeks' girlfriend at LSU. |
What's Next for the Kiffins?
As Lane settles into the pressure cooker of Tiger Stadium, expect to see Layla in the stands wearing purple and gold. The reconciliation appears to be the real deal, providing a stable foundation for a coach who has spent his entire career in the eye of a storm.
If you're looking for the scandalous "new girlfriend" headline, you won't find it. Lane's love life in 2026 is a story of a second chance with the mother of his children. It might not be the "Joey Freshwater" content the internet wants, but it's the reality of where he's at.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Keep an eye on Lane's Instagram Stories; that’s where he usually confirms family milestones.
- Watch the sidelines during the 2026 LSU season for Layla and Landry—their "game day fits" are already becoming a major trend on TikTok.