It's official: Lane Kiffin is leaving Mississippi to be LSU's next head coach, he and LSU announced on Sunday, Nov. 30.

"After a lot of prayer and time spent with family, I made the difficult decision to accept the head coaching position at LSU," he wrote in an initial announcement on X (formerly Twitter).

The Rebels are virtual locks for a College Football Playoff bid, as they finished the season with a program-best 11-1 record. Ole Miss won't play in the SEC championship game on Dec. 6, giving the Rebels a few weeks to prepare for the likely first-round matchup in Oxford, Mississippi.

Kiffin was the most sought-after coach in the carousel this season, also receiving interest from Florida, which ultimately hired Tulane's Jon Sumrall on Nov. 30. Ole Miss responded by elevating defensive coordinator Pete Golding to permanent head coach.

The question now is whether Kiffin will finish his season with the Rebels and coach them in the CFP. Here's what to know of how the next few weeks will go for Ole Miss:

Will Lane Kiffin Ole Miss coach in CFP?

Kiffin's final game with Mississippi was the Rebels' Egg Bowl win over Mississippi State on Nov. 28. He won't lead the program during the CFP.

In his social media post announcing his decision, Kiffin said he pushed for athletic director Keith Carter to allow him to finish out the season with the program. He alleged Carter told him no.

"I was hoping to complete a historic six-season run with this year's team by leading Ole Miss through the playoffs, capitalizing on the team's incredible success and their commitment to finish strong, and investing everything into a playoff run with guardrails in place to protect the program in any areas of concern," Kiffin wrote on social media. "My request to do so was denied by Keith Carter despite the team also asking him to allow me to keep coaching them so they could better maintain their high level of performance. Unfortunately, that means Friday's Egg Bowl was my last game coaching the Rebs."

The Rebels will now turn to Golding to lead the program.

Golding, in his third season as Ole Miss' defensive coordinator, has plenty of SEC experience. He was also the defensive coordinator at Alabama from 2018-22 under legendary coach Nick Saban, helping lead a national championship run in the COVID-19-impacted 2020 college football season.

Who will coach Ole Miss in CFP?

With Kiffin gone, Golding will lead Ole Miss the playoff.

While announcing the move, Carter said in a statement that a team meeting Sunday showed Golding has an "ability to galvanize our squad" and that "all of our players and coaches are ecstatic and ready to lock arms for a playoff run."

Golding had been Ole Miss's defensive coordinator since 2023. He previously served in the same role at Alabama from 2018-22. Under Golding's watch, the Rebels have finished in the top 40 in the FBS in scoring defense in each of the past three seasons. Last season, they were second nationally in scoring defense, giving up only 14.4 points per game.

"From the moment he arrived in Oxford, we quickly realized Pete is a coach who could not only lead a program but elevate it to championship status," Carter said in a statement. "He has demonstrated an exceptional football mind, but more than that, he has shown a deep understanding of our culture, values and what it means to be part of the Ole Miss family. Simply put, Pete is one of us.

"Pete's leadership, relentless energy and proven track record of building top defenses have made a tremendous impact on our program. In addition, he recruits at an elite level and has shown an unwavering commitment to developing young men once they arrive on campus. He brings a vision rooted in toughness, innovation and accountability, and he is fully prepared to guide this program into its next era of success."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Lane Kiffin coaching Ole Miss in CFP? What to know as coach leaves for LSU

Reporting by Austin Curtright and Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect