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Why Lane Kiffin said race makes recruiting more difficult at Ole Miss than LSU
TL;DR
Lane Kiffin revealed that race complicates recruiting at Ole Miss compared to LSU, citing concerns from recruits about moving to Oxford. He noted that financial support at LSU also influenced his decision to leave Ole Miss.
Key points
- Lane Kiffin discussed race's impact on recruiting at Ole Miss.
- He compared the racial climate in Oxford to Baton Rouge.
- Kiffin cited better funding at LSU as a reason for his departure.
Mentioned in this story
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Why Lane Kiffin said race makes recruiting more difficult at Ole Miss than LSU
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lane Kiffin opened up about what led to his decision to leave Ole Miss football for LSU.
In addition to the Tigers' program having more funding, Kiffin also cited the racial climate at Ole Miss and in Oxford as a factor in his decision in an article published May 11.
Kiffin said he had top recruits say, "'Hey, coach, we really like you. But my grandparents aren’t letting me move to Oxford, Mississippi.’ That doesn’t come up when you say Baton Rouge, Louisiana."
The comments are similar to those made by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith when Kiffin initially announced his decision.
"The brothers ain’t trying to come to Oxford, for the most part, compared to Gainesville or Baton Rouge. Let’s just call it what it is, OK?” Smith said at the time.
Kiffin told Vanity Fair that parents of recruits have been complimentary of LSU's racial makeup.
"Parents were sitting here this weekend saying the campus’s diversity feels so great: ‘It feels like there’s no segregation. And we want that for our kid because that’s the real world,'" Kiffin said.
Kiffin later added that he didn't want his comments to be misconstrued as disrespectful, but rather understood as factual statements.
Kiffin's inaugural recruiting class at LSU is ranked No. 11, according to the 247Sports Composite. First-year Ole Miss coach Pete Golding has signed the No. 22 recruiting class for 2026.
Kiffin's highest-ranked class in his six seasons at Ole Miss was No. 16 in 2025.
Q&A
What did Lane Kiffin say about race and recruiting at Ole Miss?
Lane Kiffin stated that race makes recruiting more challenging at Ole Miss than at LSU, with recruits expressing concerns about moving to Oxford due to its racial climate.
Why did Lane Kiffin leave Ole Miss for LSU?
Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU primarily due to better funding for the Tigers' program and the racial climate in Oxford affecting recruiting.
How does the racial climate in Oxford compare to Baton Rouge according to Kiffin?
Kiffin indicated that recruits do not express concerns about moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, unlike Oxford, Mississippi, where racial issues are a significant factor.
