Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
It’s not debatable at this point that Lane Kiffin is the first option that everyone wants. Not just LSU, but everyone. Whether he comes to Baton Rouge or not is still in the air. Literally, according to some flight trackers on social media.
But what if LSU doesn’t land Kiffin? What’s the next best option?
Someone who doesn’t come alone, in my opinion. Meaning, someone who can bring a quarterback with them right now.
One of the most sellable aspects of Kiffin to LSU (among a lot of things) is his ability to develop quarterbacks. That’s been arguably their biggest shortcoming this season with the season-long struggles of Garrett Nussmeier. And everyone has seen what this program can do with an elite quarterback putting up Heisman trophy seasons or even All-conference level numbers.
With Lane Kiffin, that is almost a done deal every year the moment that he would potentially sign with LSU.
NEW: Lane Kiffin, Keith Carter to meet Friday on Ole Miss future👀🔥
NIL plans, LSU & Florida interest, and a looming Egg Bowl decision make this the week to watch 🏈💥
Full Story 🔗 https://t.co/QclmSZTQdp pic.twitter.com/nr6WdkYLPH
— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) November 20, 2025
In Kiffin’s last nine years as a head coach (at Ole Miss and Florida Atlantic), his quarterbacks have had over 3,000 yards of total offense or at least 30 touchdowns in seven of the nine. That includes seven consecutive seasons, and they’ve accomplished both in six of those last seven years too. The only two years his signal callers didn’t reach that milestone was his first two years at Florida Atlantic. And in those years Devin Singletary rushed for 3,268 yards and 54 touchdowns including 1,920 and 32 TDs in his first year.
Point being, where Kiffin goes, offensive juggernauts tend to follow. So, if LSU swings and misses with Lane then the next best option is something similar. In this day and age of the portal and paying a premium for QBs, what if they could just land both? A “two birds and one stone” situation but with a future coach and immediate upgrade at quarterback.
Who knows if Michael Van Buren will be back next season, but with Colin Hurley’s current leave of absence and Garrett Nussmeier graduating, the Tigers only other true QB on the roster is Emile Picarella. LSU will absolutely be in the market for at least one quarterback and maybe two.
Might I interest you in Kenny Dillingham or Eli Drinkwitz.
Mizzou’s Board of Curators has unanimously approved $250 million in renovations to Memorial Stadium.
• 150 loge boxes
• LED field lighting
• 14 field-level suites
• 250 club seats, 28 outdoor boxes
• Will increase capacity to ~65,000The project breaks ground Nov. 30th. pic.twitter.com/AAQElg2dy1
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 13, 2024
A lot of Tiger fans have bemoaned the idea of hiring Drinkwitz. I get it. He looks like a nerd and hasn’t been great against top ten teams. You know what he has done? Win. He has 21 wins in his two previous seasons and currently has two former blue chip recruits on his roster. One of those is true freshman Matt Zollers, a former Elite 11 recruit that was ranked the No. 9 quarterback in the 2025 class and a top 100 recruit nationally.
Drinkwitz has also done an incredible job at getting a once dormant fanbase and donor group to be completely invested again. Missouri is currently in the middle of stadium renovations that cost upwards of $260 million. He’s also been able to sign a top 20 recruiting class in three of the last four years and a top 15 transfer portal class in each of the last two seasons including a No. 7 ranking last year.
You may not like him, but recruits and players sure seem to.
“HEY, MISSISSIPPI STATE, STFU OR I’M GONNA SCORE” 💀
Never forget when Eli Drinkwitz was an absolute menace on the sideline last year 😭pic.twitter.com/Ae4ILVCwLM
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 19, 2025
Then there’s Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State. A child prodigy that is at his first Power 4 head coaching spot and took his alma mater to the College Football Playoff in year two. The child prodigy was made strictly in jest (and jealous) as he is 35 years old, but has a resumé that is stuffed to the gills with impressive stops. He’s been the OC at Auburn, Florida State, and Oregon.
He also currently has a pretty great relationship with what might be the biggest name in the transfer portal this offseason – QB Sam Leavitt. Leavitt has been injured this year, but he was on pace for 3,500 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns before he went down. Last year he was one of the best QBs in the country as a freshman and finished with 3,328 yards of offense and 29 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
BREAKING: Arizona State star QB Sam Leavitt’s return to the program in 2026 is doubtful, @SWiltfong_ & @PeteNakos report.
Leavitt’s camp is actively shopping the talented passer “at a high level”
Intel: https://t.co/Lqu0Fco718 pic.twitter.com/t13nqfzKIy
— On3 (@On3sports) November 18, 2025
Leavitt has already been vocal about potentially leaving this year and testing the transfer portal market. I’m not saying he’s the next Jayden Daniels, but I do love the path from Arizona State to Baton Rouge.
Neither one of these scenarios is the first choice of the administration, fans, or boosters who may have to help foot the bill. But both seem like pretty good options if plan A falls through.
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