Tag: nfl

There are a lot of coaches in college football who try to say the right things and do the proper things. They tend to fit into the crowd and follow protocol.

And then there’s the maverick—the nonconformist who carves out his own path and beats to his own drum. His playbook is a selection of secrets stored in a safe to which only he has the key. And whatever your opinion of him is—whether good, bad, or ugly—he couldn’t care less.

That is Lane Kiffin.

As an assistant, coordinator, and head coach, Kiffin has made a massive name for himself in the football world. From his humble beginnings at Fresno State—where he learned the ropes from his father, Monte—to his rise as the tight ends and wide receivers coach at USC, to his initial high-profile stumbles with the Oakland Raiders and USC (both as head coach), Lane Kiffin has seen extreme highs and lows throughout his career.

Bumps on the Road to Redemption

What stands out more than anything on Kiffin’s diverse resume is that he never wavered from his ultimate goal: being an elite head coach.

There have certainly been a few notorious bumps along the way:

• Tennessee: Leaving in the middle of the night after just one season in Knoxville.
• USC: Getting infamously fired on an airport tarmac (a humbling moment, to say the least).
• Alabama: Finding his mojo in Tuscaloosa while learning under the GOAT, Nick Saban.

When Kiffin arrived in Tuscaloosa, he came to Saban broken, depressed, and defeated. But Coach Saban saw something special in him: a high-tempo spread offense in real time—something his Alabama program desperately needed. On the flip side, Lane saw a chance to get back on his feet and learn from the best. In a way, Saban and Kiffin needed each other.

Kiffin’s path of redemption and escape from “coaching purgatory” is nothing short of incredible. He could have thrown in the towel, but he stayed the course.

Since leaving the Nick Saban school of coaching, Kiffin has served as head coach at two major stops: Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. Along the way, he racked up 81 wins against just 32 losses and left Oxford as the third-winningest coach in Ole Miss history.

The Next Chapter: LSU in 2026

Fast forward to 2026: Lane Kiffin is now the head coach of the LSU Tigers.

This is his third head-coaching job in the SEC, and let’s be real—it will be the toughest, most high-pressure undertaking of his career. Fortunately for LSU, Kiffin’s skillset fits the Tigers perfectly.

Offensive Breakdown

• Quarterbacks: Coach Kiffin could potentially deploy a two-quarterback system this season. Sam Leavitt (a transfer from Arizona State) showed over the past two seasons that he is both a dangerous passer and a threat with his legs. In just seven games last year before injury, he completed 145 passes for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for another 300 yards. Behind him is Husan Longstreet (a transfer from USC)—a bit greener, but undoubtedly the dynamic athlete Kiffin loves to recruit.
• Running Backs: Harlem Berry and Caden Durham return to Baton Rouge, giving Kiffin a formidable two-back rotation.
• Tight Ends: Trey’Dez Green returns after posting 33 catches, 433 yards, and 7 touchdowns last season. He was clutch in several big moments, and Kiffin will lean heavily on his veteran leadership.
• Wide Receivers: The biggest mystery lies on the outside, as the majority of last year’s receiving corps either graduated or transferred out. Thankfully, Kiffin dove deep into the portal and landed nine wideouts to fill the void—headlined by Winston Watkins (who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss) and Jayce Brown (via Kansas State).

Kiffin’s offensive scheme relies heavily on RPOs (run-pass options), pre-snap motion, and misdirection to get his high-caliber playmakers into open space and generate explosive plays. Make no mistake: Kiffin knows how to extract every ounce of potential from his roster. Even with so many new faces, he knows exactly where to place them to succeed.

The 2026 Slate

Just like last season, the Tigers open up with a tough non-conference test against Clemson. You can bet Dabo Swinney will be thirsty for revenge during Lane’s nationally televised home debut.

The game I have circled on the calendar, however, is September 19th, when LSU travels to Oxford to take on Kiffin’s former team, Ole Miss. The drama surrounding both programs over the past year would make a great daytime soap opera. It’s a prime-time matchup, and emotions will be off the charts.

LSU enters the 2026 season facing the 11th-toughest strength of schedule in the country (according to Phil Steele). With road trips to Ole Miss, Auburn, and Tennessee—plus classic rivalry clashes against Alabama and Arkansas—this will be a grueling inaugural season in Baton Rouge.

But this is precisely why Lane Kiffin came to LSU: to coach in games like these and chase the biggest prize in college football—a National Championship.

Lane Kiffin knows the standard at LSU, and he expects to win right now.

The only question left is: is the SEC ready?

From 2002 to 2006, there was not a hotter team in the country than USC. Legendary names instantly come to mind: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, and Matt Cassel—along with legendary head coach Pete Carroll.

Since Carroll’s departure in 2009, however, the Trojans have lost their way. They have cycled through multiple head coaches (one infamously fired on an airport tarmac) and haven’t churned out elite talent at their historic rate. They’ve missed out on playoff appearances and suffered through uncommon recruiting lulls.

And today, if certain critical areas don’t improve quickly, there’s a real fear the Trojans will end up right back at square one.

The Lincoln Riley Era So Far

Lincoln Riley was hired away from Oklahoma back in 2021. At the time, many speculated his move to Los Angeles was driven by Oklahoma’s impending leap to the SEC—a stark contrast to the former Pac-12. Knowing the path to victory was easier in California—and with top-notch Southern California weather—why turn that opportunity down?

As obvious as the choice seemed for Coach Riley, he has yet to make the massive splash Trojan fans were hoping for. Still, even under high expectations, he knew what he was signing up for.

Don’t throw in the towel just yet, Trojan fans. Riley still has a plan. Coming from the Mike Leach coaching tree and serving as a key assistant under Bob Stoops, the man unquestionably knows his X’s and O’s.

3 Critical Key Areas for Improvement

If this season is going to be different for Lincoln Riley and USC, these key areas must improve:

• Winning on the Road: Three of the Trojans’ four road games last season ended in defeat, ultimately costing them a playoff berth. On Saturday, October 10th, the Trojans head to Happy Valley to face a Penn State squad led by head coach Matt Campbell. Penn State would love nothing more than to play spoiler against a playoff-caliber team like USC.
• Defense: Gary Patterson—yes, the very same Gary Patterson who coached TCU for what felt like an eternity—is USC’s defensive coordinator. His experience will be vital for a unit that allowed over 30 points per game in their four losses last season. Patterson’s signature 4-2-5 scheme relies on a four-man rush and drops seven defenders into coverage. This split-field system should bring much-needed stability to that side of the ball.
• Recruiting: The 2026 class is without a doubt Riley’s strongest group yet at USC. The class is headlined by five-star prospect Elbert Hill, rated the top cornerback in the country. The 5’11” defensive back hits hard and boasts NFL-caliber speed, making him an immediate impact addition for Gary Patterson’s secondary.

This highlight video showcases 5-star corner Elbert Hill’s playmaking skills, providing a great visual for the recruiting section of your article.

The Path Forward in 2026

The first four weeks of the schedule look manageable, but once Oregon comes to town on September 26th, the gauntlet truly begins.

Coach Riley will need veteran quarterback Jayden Maiava on his A-game. The junior threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns while posting an impressive 89.9 QBR last season. Maiava was easily one of the most underrated signal-callers in the country, but he has grown into a fine quarterback. If he can sharpen his in-game decision-making, he has all the tools to lead this team to the promised land.

USC is a program built on winning tradition—boasting 11 National Championships and 8 Heisman Trophy winners. If Lincoln Riley wants to join that legendary club, this is the year he must establish that legacy. He has the talent, the assistant coaches, and a passionate fan base. What he lacks is a championship ring in Los Angeles—and if he wants one, it’s now or never.