Ole Miss Rebels legend Archie Manning went viral this week for his reaction to Lane Kiffin’s decision to leave Oxford to become the new head coach of the LSU Tigers.

Kiffin’s decision to leave Ole Miss after six seasons has been a hot topic over the last few days as the move was made while the Rebels are in the midst of a College Football Playoff run.

The former Ole Miss head coach was hoping to be able to coach the Rebels in the playoff. Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, however, quickly nixed that idea.

Archie Manning reacts to Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU

Manning appeared on WWLA this week and he was asked about Kiffin’s decision to accept the LSU job.

The College Football Hall of Famer didn’t have much to say about Kiffin, though he quickly made it known that it seemed like everyone was telling Lane to take the LSU job.

“Well, we didn’t have a chance to keep him at Ole Miss because we had God and Nick Saban telling him to to go LSU,” said Manning.

“We didn’t have a chance to keep him at Ole Miss because we had God and Nick Saban telling him to go to LSU.”

-Archie Manning on Lane Kiffin

via @WWLAMFM pic.twitter.com/8191KkuLRo

— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) December 5, 2025

Kiffin hinted during his introductory press conference that Saban, who won a national championship as the head coach at LSU in 2003, advised him to go to Baton Rouge.

Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday that he was simply trying to give Kiffin sound advice

"I don't think you can go from one SEC school to another without a whole bunch of people getting pissed off..

I have a lot of people asking me for advice based on my experience..

For the love of the game I'm always gonna give them the best information that I can"

Coach Saban… pic.twitter.com/X5NLoxBMgp

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 5, 2025

There’s no doubt it’ll be electric when LSU visits Ole Miss next season.