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Lane Kiffin made his debut as LSU’s head coach on Saturday, September 5, against the Clemson Tigers after a two-hour lightning delay. Kiffin made his moment memorable by adding glamor to it. He arrived with former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, comedian Theo Von, and model Brooks Nader when arriving at the Tiger Stadium. Looks like Kiffin is using celebrity branding to boost LSU’s visibility and bring fans with zeal and zest as the 2026 season kicks off. However, not everyone was amused and ripped the coach. Fans Didn’t Like Lane Kiffin’s Glamor-Heavy Approach Ft. Livvy Dunne “ESPN created this. Influencer run Sports now because of you. Stuart Scott is rolling in his grave. Chris Berman hates you,” one fan reacted on X. ESPN created this. Influences run Sports now because of you. Stuart Scott is rolling in his grave. Chris Berman hates you — Treyding Stocks (@TreydingStocks) September 5, 2026 “This is sad and pathetic, something similar happened in the very last years of Rome,” one fan wrote. “His Charlie’s Angels,” one commented. College football fans are calling coach Kiffin’s stunt an all-go no-show. “What a circus this dude is,” one reacted. “This is the new Deion Sanders,” another reacted. “Bro is a walking publicly stunt,” one fan wrote. Kiffin’s debut for LSU comes after his controversial exit from Ole Miss in 2025. He signed a seven-year, $91 million deal with LSU and became the head coach in November 2025. Ahead of the season, Kiffin stirred up new drama by recruiting former NFL tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris. The eligibility controversy and legal battle started when a new NCAA rule gave the Class of 2023 a fifth season of eligibility. Wright and Harris, who are from the Class of 2022, filed a lawsuit to secure the same rights despite their NFL stints. The SEC had put a ban on former pro players, but a Louisiana court temporarily blocked these rules on Thursday night. By keeping Wright and Harris on the sidelines for opening night, LSU has temporarily avoided the Southeastern Conference’s severe sanctions, which included the risk of Kiffin’s suspension and the loss of half of LSU’s football budget. Both players are officially enrolled at LSU and can be added to the active roster later this season. On Saturday, Kiffin talked about this decision during his pregame appearance: “But at the same time, I’m the head coach of LSU, and I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU and the LSU football program with the uncertainties of what potentially could have come by adding them to the roster.” Kiffin went on to say: “As much as I feel for the players, and I believe that you fight for what you believe in, and I believe these kids have an opportunity to play just like all the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters.” On the other side, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney voiced his frustration over this eligibility chaos in modern college athletics, saying: “I would just say it’s kind of embarrassing. I mean, honestly, it’s just embarrassing that that’s where we are. I don’t blame the kids and people trying to take advantage of the system. I just think it’s embarrassing where we are with college football.” The SEC is preparing to appeal the Louisiana court ruling and push forward with the federal lawsuit in Alabama. The LSU coaching staff will monitor the litigation weekly so that Wright and Harris can later be added to the active roster. Back in 2009, Kiffin accused Florida’s Urban Meyer of cheating, and he received a reprimand from the SEC. His exit from the Ole Miss Rebels was much like his 2010 departure from Knoxville, which also sparked major campus riots there. More NFL News From Gridiron Heroics - ‘Acting Like a 16 Year Old’ — Paul Finebaum Unleashes on Lane Kiffin in Bold Criticism Amid Havoc Caused by LSU - ‘This Is a Statement Game’ — Super Bowl Champ Puts Lane Kiffin’s Offseason Work to the Test Against Clemson - ‘Needs Some Wins Soon’ — Columnist Drops Bold Warning to Deion Sanders Ahead of Week 1 Showdown Against Georgia Tech - ‘It’s an Unacceptable Opinion’ — NFL Analyst Bluntly Rejects Dan Orlovsky’s Bold Matthew Stafford Take Follow me here on Gridiron Heroics and get the latest on the world of NFL and college football. From the drama surrounding Shedeur Sanders, Bill Belichick – Jordon Hudson tea, Brittany Mahomes’ stylish looks to Taylor Swift’s appearances on Chiefs game days, this will be your one-stop shop for all NFL and college football stuff. You can also reach out to Prasen Singh via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!