Sources told ESPN that LSU is expected to finalize the hiring of Kiffin on Sunday, pulling him away from Ole Miss. Although the contract had not been signed as of late Saturday night, one source said it would be “a shock” if the deal didn’t go through.

If he signs, Kiffin will earn around $12 million per year on a seven-season contract with the possibility of bonuses — a figure that will place him among the highest-paid coaches in college football.

Meanwhile, an Ole Miss source told ESPN that defensive coordinator Pete Golding is expected to be promoted to the Rebels’ new head coach. “It’s 100% final,” the source said.

Kiffin, 50, finished the regular season with an 11–1 record after a 38–19 win over Mississippi State, virtually securing Ole Miss a spot in the new 12-team Playoff. Even so, program officials do not believe Kiffin will coach the team in the postseason unless something unexpected happens.

After saying he would decide on Saturday whether he would stay at Ole Miss or go to LSU in 2026, Kiffin met for several hours with athletic director Keith Carter and chancellor Glenn Boyce at the chancellor’s residence in Oxford. The day passed without any announcement.

There was a growing sense that Kiffin might coach Ole Miss in one more game if the team reached the SEC championship. However, Alabama’s 27–20 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl ended that possibility. The Crimson Tide will face Georgia for the conference title.

Both Florida and LSU showed strong interest in Kiffin, but Carter and Boyce were firm: if he accepted a job at another SEC program — especially LSU — he would not coach Ole Miss in the CFP. Kiffin tried to persuade the administration to reconsider, but their stance did not change.

Ole Miss does not want Kiffin around the roster with the transfer portal set to open on January 2. The school also does not want its CFP games to serve as a “showcase” for LSU’s future under Kiffin.

Even with his likely departure, Ole Miss remains in good position to host a first-round College Football Playoff game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on December 19 or 20.