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The much-watched drama in the world of college football has finally reached its conclusion. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss’ head coach for six years, took a flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last Sunday.
Kiffin was officially introduced Monday as LSU’s next head coach. Ole Miss quickly responded to Kiffin’s departure by elevating Pete Golding from defensive coordinator to head coach.
While Kiffin’s departure garnered considerable backlash, former ESPN host and current sports commentator and podcaster Bomani Jones focused on the coach’s hand-picked successor.
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Pete Golding looks on before the college football game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on October 18, 2025, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Jeffrey Vest/Sportswire Icon via Getty Images)
Jones blasted Golding’s performance during his stint as Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator. He also theorized about Golding’s appearance.
COACH WHO LEFT OLE MISS TO JOIN LANE KIFFIN AT LSU WILL FINISH SEASON WITH REBELS
“I knew him by name. I saw a picture of him and I was like, ‘There’s no way this man is going to be a head coach…'” Jones said.
Bomani Jones on stage during ‘Colin In Black And White’ Netflix and Dreamville Present Path To Power Summit at Clark Atlanta University on November 4, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (By Griffin/Getty Images for Netflix)
Golding has been coaching for nearly two decades, but this will be his first opportunity to lead a football program competing in a Power Four conference.
Kiffin coached the Rebels to victory over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl Rivalry Game last Friday to secure an 11-1 record for Ole Miss. Although Ole Miss did not qualify for this week’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, the seventh-ranked Rebels are likely in position to advance to the College Football Playoff.
Regardless of what game Ole Miss plays later this month, it will be Golding’s first opportunity as head coach of the Rebels. After reportedly meeting with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter and school chancellor Glenn Boyce, Kiffin learned his time as Rebels coach had come to an end.
LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin speaks at the South Stadium Club at Tiger Stadium on December 1, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Matthew Hinton/Imagn Images)
“I was hoping to complete a historic six-season run with this year’s team by leading Ole Miss through the postseason, capitalizing on the team’s incredible success and their commitment to finishing strong, and investing everything in a postseason run with guardrails in place to protect the program in all areas of concern,” Kiffin said in a statement.
LSU parted ways with Brian Kelly in late October, shortly after the Tigers lost a home game to Texas A&M.
