The Sugar Bowl in New Orleans this Thursday will feature more than just a clash between Ole Miss and Georgia. It will also see the controversial return of former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin, who is reportedly planning a high-profile appearance at the Superdome alongside Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
A Contentious Departure and a Playoff Run
Lane Kiffin's exit from Oxford, Mississippi, remains a raw subject. On November 30, as Ole Miss was preparing for its historic first College Football Playoff berth, Kiffin abandoned the team to accept a lucrative seven-year, $91 million deal to become the head coach at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge.
The 50-year-old coach has since become persona non grata among the Ole Miss faithful. Kiffin expressed a desire to continue coaching the Rebels through the postseason, but the university denied him that opportunity amid the widespread criticism of his timing.
His replacement, former defensive coordinator Pete Golding, successfully steered the team to a first-round CFP victory over Tulane.
Kiffin's Bold Sugar Bowl Plans
According to a report by Chris Low of On3, Kiffin is expected to be at the Superdome on Thursday. His companion for the event is said to be Governor Jeff Landry, who played a key role in recruiting the sought-after coach to LSU.
The report suggests Kiffin's ambitions for the spotlight didn't end there. Sources indicate he contacted ESPN personnel about the possibility of appearing in the broadcast booth for a segment during the Sugar Bowl game. However, those same sources state that ESPN has not been receptive to the idea.
When approached for comment by the Daily Mail, ESPN declined. This potential move is seen as particularly curious given Kiffin's recent history with the network.
A Pattern of Broken Commitments?
Kiffin's critics were quick to highlight that he recently bailed on a scheduled appearance on ESPN's flagship programme, College GameDay, on December 6.
At the time, Kiffin explained on social media that he had to remain in Baton Rouge to finalise matters with players and a coach. This did little to quell the backlash.
"Bailing on a commitment? Shocker," one critic remarked on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, "He hasn't even started and he's already backing out of commitments. Who would have ever guessed?"
The winner of the Sugar Bowl will advance to the Fiesta Bowl to face No. 10 Miami, keeping their championship hopes alive for the CFP title game on January 19.
