Lane Kiffin Officially Announces Departure from Ole Miss, Heads to LSU

It's official.

After weeks of speculation, Lane Kiffin has announced that he's leaving Ole Miss to become the next head coach at LSU, ending a six-year run in Oxford that transformed the Rebels into a consistent SEC contender.

Kiffin made the announcement Sunday afternoon in a statement posted to social media, calling the decision "difficult" after spending time in prayer and discussing the opportunity with his family.

But it wasn't just a farewell message.

Kiffin also revealed that he asked Ole Miss Athletic Director Keith Carter for permission to remain on the sidelines and coach the Rebels through their upcoming College Football Playoff appearance before officially transitioning to LSU.

According to Kiffin, that request was denied.

In his statement, Kiffin said he wanted the opportunity to finish what he started with a team that earned its place in the playoff and believed safeguards could have been put in place to protect Ole Miss throughout the transition. He also claimed the players wanted him to remain their head coach for the postseason.

As a result, Kiffin confirmed that Friday night's Egg Bowl victory was his final game leading the Rebels.

While the request itself was always going to be controversial, it adds another layer to one of the biggest coaching moves of the offseason. Allowing the future head coach of a conference rival to lead your program through the College Football Playoff would have been unprecedented, especially with recruiting and the early signing period taking place at the same time.

For LSU fans, however, the attention now shifts to Baton Rouge.

Kiffin inherits one of college football's premier programs with championship expectations from day one, while bringing one of the nation's most explosive offensive minds to Tiger Stadium.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss isn't wasting time moving forward. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding is expected to take over the program as the Rebels prepare for their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

The coaching carousel has finally stopped spinning.

Now, the Kiffin era at LSU officially begins.