Lane Kiffin Reacts to LSU Having CFB's Top Transfer Portal Class After Arrival from Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin used his now-trademark emoji reaction to the news that LSU has the nation's top transfer portal class.

The new Tigers head coach responded to a post on X about LSU's ranking with the rat and skull and cross bones emoji.

This has become Kiffin's go-to response on social media whenever anyone brings up LSU's transfer class.

Kiffin explained in October while coaching at Ole Miss that "rat poison" is a term he learned from former Alabama head coach Nick Saban to describe any outside praise that might distract from the task ahead.

In the three months since Kiffin was hired by LSU, he has done a terrific job of building up the roster through the transfer portal and recruiting class. The Tigers brought in a total of 39 players via the transfer portal, led by former Mississippi edge Princewill Umanmielen.

Kiffin's incoming freshman class is only 17 players deep so far, but 247Sports' composite rankings has it as the 11th-best group in the nation.

Historically, it hasn't taken Kiffin long to make his impact felt on a program. His worst record in the first season as a head coach was at Ole Miss in 2020 when he went 5-5. He has won at least 10 games in seven of his 14 years as a head coach.

LSU is coming off a 7-6 record in 2025. Brian Kelly was fired as head coach on Oct. 26 after a 5-3 start to the season. Interim head coach Frank Wilson went 2-3, capped off by a 38-35 loss to Houston in the Texas Bowl.