Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are getting played by their top 2027 commit.

At least that’s what it looks like.

2027 five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson, 6-foot-6/239 pounds from Ruston, LA, committed to LSU last month, but he’s continuing to show interest in other programs.

Specifically, Hudson is showing heavy interest in Nebraska — or that’s what he’s claiming.

Is Ahmad Hudson truly interested in Nebraska?

Hudson took an official visit to Nebraska this weekend and he told Rivals.com that Nebraska is a “strong contender” to flip him.

“The visit went great,” said Hudson to Rivals. “They’re a pretty strong contender. Just being able to get up here, you know, seeing everything… They are close.”

Maybe Hudson is truly interested in playing for a meddling Nebraska program that is 19-19 over the last three seasons under Matt Rhule. Maybe he wants to leave his home state to play for a program that may have a new coach by the time he gets to campus in early 2027.

Or maybe Hudson is just trying to get the best NIL deal he can get. Feigning interest in Nebraska, after all, gives Hudson some leverage before he takes his official visit to LSU later this month (which is presumably when the final financial details would be taken care of).

Hudson is an elite talent who has the potential to be a game-changer in the SEC from day one. He’s a player that Kiffin and the Tigers need to keep in-state. But should LSU get into a bidding war to keep him?

I can’t answer that. That’s part of the reason Kiffin is getting paid $13 million in Baton Rouge — to make these kinds of decisions.

I don’t think anyone loves that this is what college football has become, but it’s reality unfortunately.