If you haven't been checking the headlines in Baton Rouge lately, you might still think the guy with the massachusetts accent and the $100 million contract is pacing the sidelines at Tiger Stadium. He isn't. Honestly, the answer to who is the coach of LSU football changed so fast it made the entire SEC dizzy.
Lane Kiffin is the head coach of the LSU Tigers.
Yeah, let that sink in for a second. The "Portal King" himself officially took the reins in late 2025, and as we head into the 2026 season, the program is basically unrecognizable from the Brian Kelly era. It was a messy, expensive, and high-stakes transition that saw LSU eat a $52 million buyout just to clear the deck for Kiffin.
Why the change happened so fast
You've gotta understand the pressure cooker that is LSU football. Brian Kelly wasn't "bad" by most standards—he won 10 games in each of his first two seasons—but 2025 was a train wreck. The Tigers started 5-3, and after a blowout home loss to Texas A&M in October, the administration decided they’d seen enough.
They didn't just fire him; they went to war over the money.
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LSU actually tried to argue they had "cause" to fire Kelly to avoid paying that massive $52 million check. It ended up in court. Eventually, the school blinked, conceded it was a termination "without cause," and agreed to the full payout. By November 30, 2025, Lane Kiffin was officially announced as the new shot-caller, arriving from Ole Miss with a literal train of transfers following him.
The Kiffin effect: Roster flips and "The Train"
Kiffin didn't waste a single hour. He brought a massive chunk of his Ole Miss staff with him, including Charlie Weis Jr. as offensive coordinator and his brother, Chris Kiffin, to help run the defense.
But the real story is the roster.
The quarterback room was a ghost town when Kelly left. In a 72-hour span in January 2026, Kiffin landed three high-profile signal-callers, including Sam Leavitt and five-star prospect Husan Longstreet. He’s essentially using the Transfer Portal like a fantasy football draft. As of mid-January 2026, LSU has the #1 ranked transfer class in the country, featuring nearly 40 new faces.
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- Key Staffers: Charlie Weis Jr. (OC), Blake Baker (DC), and Joe Houston (Special Teams).
- Recruiting Strategy: Heavy focus on "NFL-ready" portal additions rather than just four-year high school projects.
- Atmosphere: It’s gone from Kelly’s corporate, process-oriented vibe to Kiffin’s chaotic, social-media-heavy energy.
Is he the right fit?
People are divided, obviously. Some fans think Kiffin is exactly what the program needs—a recruiter who can actually win the NIL battles that Kelly seemingly struggled with. Others worry that the "mercenary" style of building a roster won't hold up in the late-season grind of the SEC.
But look at the numbers. Kiffin is 50 years old and has been everywhere: USC, the Raiders, Tennessee, Alabama (as an assistant), and Ole Miss. He’s admitted he made mistakes early in his career, but his 11-1 run at Ole Miss in 2025 proved he can coach at an elite level.
The goal for the who is the coach of LSU football question isn't just to find a name; it’s to find a championship. LSU’s last three coaches—Saban, Miles, and Orgeron—all won national titles. Kelly was the first since the 1990s to leave without a ring. The pressure on Kiffin to deliver one by 2027 is immense.
The 2026 LSU coaching staff breakdown
Kiffin didn't just bring players; he gutted the building. Here is how the 2026 staff looks:
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Charlie Weis Jr. is the guy holding the clipboard for the offense. He worked with Kiffin at Ole Miss during their record-breaking 2025 season. On the defensive side, Blake Baker remains a focal point, tasked with fixing a unit that was arguably the reason Kelly lost his job.
They also added Joe Houston from Florida to handle special teams, a move that flew under the radar but was crucial after several special teams blunders cost the Tigers games in '24 and '25.
What most people get wrong about the buyout
There’s a common myth that LSU is "broke" after paying Kelly. While $52 million is a staggering amount of money, the athletic department's boosters—often called the "Big Cats"—essentially crowdfunded the transition. The university itself didn't take that hit out of the academic budget; it came from private donations and SEC television revenue.
LSU is gambling that the revenue from a Kiffin-led playoff run will far exceed the cost of the buyout. It’s a "Super League" mentality in a college sports world.
Actionable steps for fans and bettors
If you're following the Tigers this year, keep your eye on the spring portal window. Kiffin has already hinted that he isn't done.
- Monitor Sam Leavitt's health: The quarterback's recovery is the linchpin for the 2026 season. If he isn't 100% by August, the Kiffin era might start with a stumble.
- Check the defensive line depth: Despite the offensive fireworks, LSU’s success in the SEC still lives and dies in the trenches. Watch how many big men Kiffin pulls from the portal in the coming weeks.
- Expect volatility: Betting on a Kiffin team is a rollercoaster. Expect high scores, aggressive fourth-down goes, and plenty of "Twitter drama."
The "who is the coach of LSU football" saga is finally settled. Now, the only question is whether the "Lane Train" can actually reach the station in Atlanta for the SEC Championship.