Lane Kiffin

“I said this morning, you can not agree with it. I've been criticized heavily this past week, and I get that and understand, but my job is not to please you and worry about what you are going to write. My job is that I believe in what is right. And, I believed in fighting for those kids … That's what I believe.”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-09-05 · reported 2026-09-06

Kiffin said this postgame, defending his decision to fight for rostering former professional players despite heavy criticism during the week.

“What's the difference? Everyone already hates you, they can't hate you that much more,”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-09-05 · reported 2026-09-06

Kiffin said this postgame when addressing his halftime comments amid the court drama over rostering former professional players.

“Imagine if we had pro players,”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-09-05 · reported 2026-09-06

Kiffin made this remark to ESPN heading into the locker room at halftime with LSU leading 28-3.

“I felt like I was back at Mardi Gras,”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-09-05 · reported 2026-09-06

Kiffin said this following LSU's 51-10 win over Clemson in his debut as head coach.

“I'm just glad they played the way they did, so that wouldn’t have been the story. Even if we would have won close, it would’ve been how I screwed the team up doing this thing.”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-09-05 · reported 2026-09-06

Kiffin said this postgame, expressing relief that his team's performance ensured the court-related controversy would not dominate the narrative.

“So, you know, we have you know made a decision to recruit some kids around the country, and through these multiple injunctions around the country, which, this is not a first time in college sports, a group of players were granted a fifth year of eligibility, in multiple sports. And through them winning their injunction and entry into the portal, they’re available to recruit,”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-08-25 · reported 2026-08-26

Kiffin explained LSU's decision to recruit players who won injunctions granting them an additional season of eligibility.

“[They're] either going to play for you or they're going to play for someone else around the country.”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-08-24 · reported 2026-08-26

Kiffin defended courting pro players at a press conference while being careful not to confirm any new signings.

“So ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them. At the end of the day, you know, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play somewhere else around the country. So, we made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are.”

Lane Kiffin · said 2026-08-25 · reported 2026-08-26

Kiffin said players granted eligibility through injunctions would either play for LSU or for another school, so LSU chose to recruit them.