The Ole Miss Rebels head-coaching job isn’t the only thing Lane Kiffin passed on to Pete Golding after he flocked to the LSU Tigers.
Golding spoke at SEC Media Days in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. During the news conference, the Ole Miss coach discussed his relationship with Kiffin, saying they remain on good terms and that he even sold him his old home in Oxford.
“[Kiffin] helped me with this one a little bit…because he had another offer that he actually worked out to where I could get it, and the other person couldn’t,” Golding said (h/t ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel).
Kiffin confirmed that on Thursday. He made sure to check in on Golding after he settled into the new home, even though it was from afar.
How Lane Kiffin kept an eye on Pete Golding
Kiffin said Golding immediately began using the house when he left for Baton Rouge in November. He then checked his Ring camera (a home security system) to watch over his former defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach.
“He can’t be wherever it was this recruit’s house, he’s on my couch,” Kiffin said whenever his staff speculated Golding was visiting a high school player it was also targeting. “I just saw him walk in.”
Kiffin added: “I told him afterwards, you might want to change the Ring camera.”
Though Kiffin was ensuring that Golding felt comfortable in his new home, it was wise to advise him to uninstall the Ring camera. He wouldn’t want Ole Miss supporters, some of whom are still angry about the coach’s departure, to accuse him of spying.
Kiffin accepted the LSU job just before the start of Ole Miss’ College Football Playoff run. The school reportedly denied his request to coach in the postseason. Golding then replaced him, leading the Rebels to the semifinals, where they lost to the Miami Hurricanes 31-27.
After finishing 13-2 in 2025, Ole Miss should remain in CFP contention in its first full season under Golding in 2026. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (3,937 yards passing in 2025, No. 3 in FBS) and running back Kewan Lacy (1,567 yards rushing in 2025, No. 3 in FBS) are returning, a big win for the Rebels.
LSU went 7-6 last season but is expected to rebound in its first season under Kiffin, who has already found his guy at the most important position. This offseason, the Tigers added former Arizona State Sun Devils QB Sam Leavitt, who threw for 4,513 yards and 34 TD passes over the past two seasons.
The Tigers-Rebels matchup should be among the most anticipated SEC games this upcoming season. Ole Miss hosts LSU on Sept. 19 (ABC, 7:30 p.m. ET). Perhaps Kiffin can swing by his old crib that week and catch up with Golding.
