LSU’s massive bet on Lane Kiffin comes with one non-negotiable expectation

With college football roughly a month away, several prestigious programs will enter the season under new leadership. The LSU Tigers are among them after dismissing Brian Kelly last season. LSU then made headlines by luring Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss in a controversial move that reignited debate about Kiffin’s reputation.

LSU not only handed Kiffin a lucrative contract, but it also likely helped cover a significant buyout. In return, Kiffin inherits one of the nation’s premier programs with greater recruiting resources than he had at Ole Miss. Those advantages, however, come with enormous expectations.

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The SEC Network recently discussed what qualifies as a reasonable expectation for LSU this season. Paul Finebaum made his stance clear: the Tigers should reach the College Football Playoff.

“CFP [College Football Playoffs.] It’s really simple,” said Finebaum. “That is the expectation because not only the money paid to him, the money paid to the players.”

Kiffin has long been a polarizing figure in college football. He has developed a reputation for leaving programs and, at times, drawing criticism for how he has handled those departures. This may be the most pressure he has faced since leaving Tennessee for USC.

There is little doubt about Kiffin’s ability as a coach. He elevated Ole Miss to heights the program had not reached since, arguably, the days of Archie Manning.

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What remains open to debate is why Kiffin chose to leave during one of the most successful stretches in modern Ole Miss history. The Rebels reached the College Football Playoff semifinals despite losing their head coach just before the postseason.

It could ultimately become one of the biggest “what ifs” in recent college football history. Regardless, Kiffin is now expected not only to deliver at LSU but to do so immediately.

If Kiffin wants people to move past his previous coaching exits, winning has a way of changing the conversation. He has a prime opportunity to do exactly that.

Will Kiffin make a College Football Playoff run in his first season at LSU?