Welcome to a special crossover episode of Locked on Ole Miss and Locked on the Portal! Steven Willis joins Brian Smith to break down the biggest question in college football: Will Lane Kiffin stay at Ole Miss or jump to LSU after Brian Kelly's firing?

🏈 Lane Kiffin's Future: Nick Saban publicly stated what Ole Miss fans already know - LSU isn't necessarily a better job than Ole Miss anymore. Kiffin makes comparable money to what Kelly earned and has built an elite roster in Oxford. Willis argues the national media is "trying to push Lane Kiffin out of Ole Miss" because they prefer focusing on traditional powerhouses. With three 10-win seasons in four years and a likely playoff berth, why would Kiffin leave now?

🔥 LSU Coaching Search: Willis makes a compelling case for John Sumrall at Tulane, calling him the best G5 coach on the market, but acknowledges "LSU does not want to hire their little brother's head coach." Kenny Dillingham from Arizona State could be LSU's "Mike Elko" hire. The Tigers face structural chaos with a new president, new athletic director, and $800,000 monthly payments to Kelly for six years.

💎 Ole Miss's Portal Potential: With LSU, Florida, and Arkansas in coaching chaos, their rosters are "available to be picked over." Willis predicts Ole Miss could target elite players while their roster is already loaded with returning talent including potential sixth-year quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

🎯 The Chambliss-Simmons Situation: Ole Miss is pursuing a medical redshirt waiver for Chambliss. "Austin Simmons is completely attached to the waiver process" - if approved, Simmons likely enters the portal; if denied, Simmons becomes the starter.

🔧 Roster Priorities: Wide receiver and offensive tackle are "the money positions that Ole Miss is going to attack in the transfer portal." Most critically, Ole Miss needs a free safety they can trust at "the back end of that defense."

⚡ Playoff Path: The Rebels should be 10-point favorites in their remaining four games, potentially setting up "the biggest game in the history of the state of Mississippi" - a playoff game in Oxford.

Don't miss this comprehensive breakdown of Ole Miss's championship window and SEC coaching carousel chaos!

 

0:00 Intro

1:16 Is Lane Kiffin really leaving Ole Miss?

4:49 Why LSU isn't a better job

7:52 Will coaching rumors distract the team?

11:13 Who should LSU hire next?

15:38 Ole Miss's elite portal class potential

19:29 Trinidad Chambliss and quarterback room decisions

22:25 Roster priorities for next season

26:25 SEC Championship game predictions

 

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss football, LSU coaching search, Brian Kelly fired, college football playoff, SEC championship, transfer portal recruiting, Kenny Dillingham, John Sumrall, quarterback recruiting, Austin Simmons, Trinidad Chambliss, roster building strategy, NIL recruiting, offensive coordinator hiring, defensive coordinator search, college football rankings, SEC West race, Florida Gators coaching, Alabama football, Georgia Bulldogs, Texas A&M football, portal class rankings, wide receiver recruiting, offensive line recruiting

 

Show originally aired 10/29/25

 

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