Latest on Status of Lane Kiffin's LSU Assistants During Ole Miss' CFP Bracket Run

LSU will allow offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and running backs coach Kevin Smith to coach for Ole Miss in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal against Miami, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach and Heather Dinich.

Ole Miss head football coach Pete Golding commented Saturday on whether the assistant coaches who followed Lane Kiffin to LSU will be permitted to continue coaching for the Rebels during their College Football Playoff semifinal game against Miami on Thursday.

When asked about the status of those particular coaches, Golding told reporters, "They have every opportunity like they have up to this point to be able to make that decision. So week in and week out, I don't dictate whether they do that or not because they're not employed by me. [But] up to this point, that is how it's been and that's my expectation."

Ultimately, it appears as though Weis and Smith will be able to continue working with the Rebels.

Kiffin coached Ole Miss to an 11-1 start this season, but when he accepted the head coaching position at LSU last month, Ole Miss promoted Golding from defensive coordinator to head coach and denied Kiffin's request to coach the Rebels in the CFP.

However, Weis, Smith, tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox and wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald have all been allowed to coach for Ole Miss during the CFP despite joining Kiffin's staff at LSU.

Questions arose this week whether those coaches would be able to coach in the CFP semifinal, though, since the transfer portal opened Friday, meaning Kiffin and LSU could need them on hand when it comes to courting potential transfers.

Schlabach and Dinich reported that Weis and Smith were in Baton Rouge on Monday to help with recruiting visits before flying back to Mississippi that same night.

On Friday, Schlabach reported that some assistant coaches "pushed back" on leaving Ole Miss in the midst of a playoff run. An Ole Miss source told Schlabach, "There are going to be some fireworks. We always knew this might be a possibility."

Since Kiffin's departure, the Rebels have defeated Tulane in the first round of the CFP and Georgia in the quarterfinals.

The win over Georgia was a major upset since the Bulldogs were the No. 3 seed, and they had handed the Rebels their only loss earlier this season.

Mississippi's offense thrived against one of the best defenses in the nation, though, scoring 39 points and racking up 473 yards of total offense.

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was an especially big difference-maker, going 30-of-46 for 362 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

One can only assume the continuity between Chambliss and Weis played a role in Ole Miss' offensive success against Georgia, which is why Weis reportedly sticking around for the CFP semifinal is a huge deal.

There is no telling how other coaches potentially leaving to focus on LSU will impact the Rebels chances against the Hurricanes, but based on how the team has played since Kiffin's departure, it seems to have a legitimate chance to go the distance and win a national title.