Mississippi could be without as many as six assistants when it plays Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The six assistants have stayed with Mississippi during the Rebels' first two CFP wins.
According to ESPN, "Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald and running backs coach Kevin Smith have all signed contracts to coach with Kiffin at LSU."
Mississippi elevated defensive coordinator Pete Golding to permanent head coach when Lane Kiffin accepted the head coaching job at LSU following an 11-1 regular season for the Rebels. Mississippi chancellor Glenn Boyce and athletic director Keith Carter denied Kiffin's request to coach the Rebels in the CFP, per ESPN.
Miami should have an advantage of continuity and focus during the week of practice ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The Hurricanes also have an extra day in between their Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State on Wednesday and playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Mississippi advanced with a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia on Wednesday night.
It remains unclear if six Ole Miss assistants who've signed with LSU will coach the Rebels in the CFP semifinals next week vs. Miami, per Yahoo Sports' @RossDellenger.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 2, 2026
Many around the program expect some or all to officially join the LSU staff and move on. pic.twitter.com/rL3yj4hAfv
Replacing Lane Kiffin during College Football Playoff run
Weis Jr. has replaced Kiffin, calling plays during the CFP run. Mississippi is averaging 37.6 points per game on the season and has scored 80 points in its two CFP games. The Rebels lead the Power Four teams, averaging 496.2 yards per game and have posted 485.0 in the CFP.
With Golding elevated to head coach, most of the defensive assistants are expected to stay in Oxford. The exception is Kiffin's brother Chris, a defensive analyst. Their father, the late Monty Kiffin, is considered one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history.
Per Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, several of the assistants leaving have been scrubbed from the Mississippi website and added to the LSU staff roster. Weis told Dellenger the oddity of game planning for Georgia and then recruiting for LSU last week.
Dellenger's article noted the possibility that the Georgia game could be the last one the six Mississippi assistants coach for the Rebels. The dual loyalties are a big distraction for Mississippi ahead of its biggest game in over 60 years.