Would LSU have allowed its old coach to stay on for playoff? ‘Nah,’ AD says

If the roles were reversed, LSU athletics director Verge Ausberry is clear about how he would have handled a departing head coach. When asked by USA Today Sports’ Blake Toppmeyer whether he would let a coach stay on through the postseason after accepting another job, Ausberry’s answer was a definitive ‘nah.’

The Kiffin Situation

The hypothetical centers on the dramatic transition of Lane Kiffin, who left Ole Miss to become the new head coach at LSU ahead of the 2025 College Football Playoff. Kiffin had hoped to remain with the Rebels to finish the postseason, but Ole Miss leadership opted to move on immediately. Instead, the team promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to lead the program, ultimately guiding them to a semifinal finish.

Support for the Decision

Ausberry acknowledged that he stands behind the choice made by Ole Miss. "If I’m Ole Miss, I probably would’ve made the same decision," Ausberry told 205focus.com readers via the recent reports. "I know LSU would’ve made the same decision. I don’t blame anybody. I’d probably be like, ‘Nah, we ain’t doing that. No.’ But, that hand wasn’t dealt.”

A New Era in Baton Rouge

Kiffin arrives in Baton Rouge following a successful six-year stint at Ole Miss, where he compiled a 55-19 record and capped his tenure with three consecutive seasons of at least 10 victories. He takes over the LSU program from Brian Kelly, who was dismissed during the 2025 season after going 34-14 over four years.