New football coach for lsu

1. The frontrunner story: Lane Kiffin’s name dominates coverage

Across local and national outlets, Lane Kiffin is repeatedly presented as LSU’s top target, with multiple reports saying LSU has offered or is finalizing a near $90 million contract over seven years and is promising more than $25 million a year in NIL/roster cash to recruit and assemble talent — claims traced to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger and widely echoed by USA Today, WDSU and other outlets ^{[2] [1] [3]}. Sports Illustrated and Athlon likewise place Kiffin at or near the top of LSU’s wish list, and discuss how his offensive résumé and portal/NIL savvy make him appealing to Baton Rouge ^{[6] [7]}.

2. Not a done deal: multiple outlets stress “process still ongoing”

Even as outlets report large offers, reporting repeatedly frames the situation as active negotiations rather than a completed hire. Tiger Rag and other outlets note sources saying talks have “progressed well” but explicitly warn “the process is still going on” — and CBS Sports cautioned momentum doesn’t equal a done deal ^{[8] [6]}. Betting and odds pieces also treat Kiffin as a leading candidate, not a confirmed hire ^[6].

3. Contingency plans and other candidates if Kiffin stays put

Coverage also highlights backup options. Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz is repeatedly presented as a contingency target should Kiffin remain at Ole Miss, with outlets noting Drinkwitz appears close to an extension at Missouri that could complicate LSU’s fallback plans ^{[9] [7]}. Other name‑board reporting lists several potential fits and emphasizes the coaching carousel’s fluidity: market timing, buyouts and contract clauses matter ^{[10] [7]}.

4. The Kelly legal entanglement that complicates finances and timing

LSU’s urgency to hire a new coach runs parallel to an active legal fight with fired coach Brian Kelly. Kelly’s lawsuit alleges LSU sought to avoid a roughly $54 million buyout by claiming cause; ESPN and other outlets report Kelly’s attorneys saying LSU’s positions have “made it nearly impossible” for him to land another job and that the board has moved to formally terminate him as part of its legal response ^{[4] [5]}. That $54 million liability — repeatedly cited in reporting — is a major fiscal backdrop to any new contract discussions ^[4].

5. Political and donor dynamics in the process

Reporting points to unusual political involvement and donor largesse. Ross Dellenger’s reporting — cited by multiple outlets — says Governor Jeff Landry “blessed” the pursuit and that deep‑pocketed donors would help fund Kiffin’s package, suggesting the hire is being driven by powerful external stakeholders as much as AD or university leadership ^{[2] [3]}. Tiger Rag and others note tension around who is steering the hire and how donor/NIL funds would be used ^[3].

6. What the available reporting does not (yet) show

Available sources do not mention any official announcement from LSU confirming Kiffin as the next head coach; they also do not provide the signed contract text, nor do they document Kiffin’s public acceptance of LSU’s offer in the supplied coverage ^{[1] [8]}. There is no sourced denial from Lane Kiffin in these items saying he will remain at Ole Miss or take LSU; outlets emphasize negotiations and contingency planning instead ^{[6] [7]}.

7. Bottom line for readers tracking “new coach” news

As of the supplied reporting, Lane Kiffin is the dominant candidate and LSU is reportedly offering a massive financial package, but outlets uniformly treat the situation as ongoing negotiations, not a concluded hire; the Kelly buyout dispute and contract timing make the outcome uncertain ^{[1] [4]}. Readers should watch for an official LSU announcement or confirmations from Kiffin/Ole Miss to move from strong reporting to verified fact ^{[8] [6]}.