CFB Rumors: Latest Rumors on Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Coaching Staff Before LSU Exit

The Ole Miss coaching staff was reportedly split as the Lane Kiffin saga played out amid the team's 11-1 season that will likely end in a College Football Playoff spot.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported Wednesday that the coaching staff "discussed four options" with some mixed opinions among the group. Those options were to either remain at Ole Miss and continue building on the foundation they already established, leave for LSU, leave for Florida, or go to Florida State.

That LSU and Florida were interested in Kiffin is no secret. He ended up taking the Tigers job, but he was also connected to the Gators throughout much of the process.

However, Florida State generated far fewer headlines as a possibility with Schlabach reporting it "was making a stealth move to poach Kiffin."

Schlabach also reported "the entire defensive coaching staff, led by coordinator Pete Golding, preferred to stay at Ole Miss." Then there was the offensive staff, which wanted to leave for Florida or LSU outside of one assistant.

It is notable the defensive staff wanted to remain, as Ole Miss eventually named Golding its replacement head coach. Golding will be in charge of the program as it prepares for the CFP even though Kiffin said in his own announcement about taking the LSU job that he preferred to stay with the Rebels until the season ended.

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While Ole Miss did not allow him to do that, he released a different statement explaining offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss Jr., who is going with him to the Tigers, will stay with Ole Miss through the CFP:

"With the playoff committee releasing updated rankings tonight, I wanted it to be known that after conversations with LSU, we are allowing Charlie to return to Ole Miss to coach the team during the playoffs. I've already made the committee aware of this and I'm hopeful this decision will allow Ole Miss to receive the highest ranking possible because these great players are very deserving of that. I'm excited that Charlie will be back to help coach the greatest team in the history of Ole Miss."

Weiss is among a number of coaches joining the Tigers along with co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator George McDonald, inside wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan, head of strength and conditioning Nick Savage and senior executive director of player personnel Mike Williams, per Wilson Alexander of The Advocate.

That it is largely offensive coaches follows considering Schlabach's reporting on the split among the coaches.