PTI - Lane Kiffin to LSU! Right Call or BIG Mistake?

Episode Date: December 1, 2025

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss the latest in the NFL and Lane Kiffin's decision to join LSU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. We are back from Thanksgiving break, Tony. How'd you spend it?

I'm Tony Kornheiser. I thought about leaving for LSU, but I'm staying here. I could have gone differently. You could have. If you mentioned, you were leaving for somewhere else. But as I heard someone say, I prayed on it. Oh, okay. Welcome to PTI boys and girls.

In today's episode, Lane Kiffin leaves Ole Miss for LSU. Wilbon's bears run over the Eagles and the Broncos barely beat the commanders. but we begin today with yesterday's NFL action. There were two results that raised an eyebrow or two. One was the Carolina Panthers beating Los Angeles Rams 3128, which opened the door to the number one seed in the NFC to your bears, Wilbon. The other was the Houston Texans beating the Indianapolis Colts in Indy, 20 to 16. Wilbon, which of these results was the bigger surprise?

You know neither of these was actually surprised to me because in my pool. You had it both. Yeah. I'm stunned. I'm stunned. I'm stunned. I'm stunned. No, that's dumb.

That's dumb. But it's still Carolina. Because even as I'm watching it and sort of cheering for it to happen, not that I hate the Rams, that's an upset. The Rams had won six in a row. They had gone into the week. They started the holiday weekend with everybody proclaiming they were the best team in football, if there was such a thing.

Tony, I didn't think that about Houston and Indy. I thought that was a toss-up, a pick-em going into the day. But when you see Carolina, look, Carolina's done this a few times now. Five and one after losses, which is the best record in the NFL. Is that right? Carolina. Carolina, you know, I have, look,

I've been sleeping, as they say, on Carolina because I thought they stung. Most people have been. I've been sleeping, too on their quarterback, Bryce Young, who I thought was too small for the league. He's not too small for the league. How about those two fourth-down plays when he toss his touchdown? And the coach of that team clearly knows what he's doing.

Did they run the ball? They ran the ball. Like 40 times. I don't know. 40 times. I don't know how they lost to the Saints. But they have now beaten Green Bay and the Rams. They are 7 and 6.

They were 4 and 13 last year, 2 and 15 the year before. So much like New England, they've come out of nowhere. That is the biggest surprise. I could try to make the case on Houston beating Indianapolis in Indy. But you also have to say that Indianapolis has now lost 3 out of 4. They appear to be fading. And Jonathan Taylor is not getting the chunk yards that he got to. before. He had, what, 85 yards on 21 carries. And Daniel Jones played on a broken leg, which is not

ideal. It's not ideal in that situation. Houston has now won four in a row. Three of them with a backup quarterback. So what happened yesterday is C.J. Stroud made a good team better. But yes, the answer is the Rams. As you know, I had Matthew Stafford as the MVP. He was 29 touchdowns, no interceptions in his most recent run. At some point, both the streak, six in a row, and that crazy streak of touchdowns without interceptions. 29 and 0. Twice in the first quarter? What I'm saying to you is when that happens

twice in the first quarter, and then there's that fumble late, that critical fumble late. That is shocking to me. I expected them to win. Expected. Nobody in this league, this year, is so good that we just presume

correctly that they just keep winning. No. Right? No. There's either no great team or there's 15 good ones. It's scare me about my situation pretty soon. Let's move from Sunday's surprises to those from the extended holiday weekend. Dak threw for 320 yards.

Give his money. As the Cowboys top of the Chiefs, the Bengals' last place, defense forced the Ravens into five turnovers in Cincinnati beat Baltimore in Joe Burroughs return. And the Bears ran over and through the heavily booed and heavily favored Eagles. Maybe it was heavily favored and heavily booed. Tony, which of these results most surprised you? So the biggest surprise is that the bears at the moment are the number one seed in the NFC. Nobody saw this coming, especially you, who said before the season, we could start out 0.N5.

Beating the Eagles is impressive. Running on them is impressive. But, you know, there's something wrong with the Eagles right now. They have no offense. No, they don't. Sequin Barkley, they are not. So the reason that they're not. The reason that that is not the biggest surprise is because the pairs are nine and three.

I mean, you cannot just automatically assume that they're not going to win that game. A bigger surprise is Cincinnati beating Baltimore. Joe Burrow essentially came out of a hospital bed and beat this team. He'd practice. He threw the ball, what, 45, 46 times he had three touchdown, two touchdowns, rather. On the other side, Lamar Jackson in the last three games has no touchdown passes. He has three interceptions. He has two fumbles lost and he's been sacked eight times.

Weeks ago, you said on this air, you thought he had lost a step. In the interim, he seems to have lost another step. But the biggest surprise is the Dallas Cowboys. Let's be honest about that. They were proclaimed by every show on this network. In the span of five days, they now beat the two teams that were in the Super Bowl last year, the Eagles and the Chiefs. And Mike, they may have knocked the Chiefs out of the playoffs.

Well, we're going to see more about the Chiefs, even more. I mean, the game's coming up this weekend, but that's a few days away. Let me go back to this weekend. Tony, it was a Bears. Because I've lived with this intimately. Nobody thought the Bears were any damn good.

At the beginning of the year. No, nobody thought this week. Oh, because if you listen to all the shows coming out of the previous Sunday into Monday, there are people proclaimed Hall of Famers, people with gold jackets. They were sad and eight. And three teams.

The Bears are already good. Going into this game, there were eight and three. of those games was by a hangnail, something that shouldn't have happened. That's what Kansas City did last year. They were 11 and 0 in one score games. They were against teams that were threats. The Bears are beating some last players. You're just promoting the Bears because they're your team.

Look, look, look, I'm scared about this whole thing. Of course you are. Because it seems like it was just paper. They're going into Green Bay. You're scared. They went into Philly and kicked there, you know what. They did. And that was great.

So I don't want to hear about Philly's offense. We ran through Philly's defense. I just want to talk about Dallas for a second. I think you give them short shrift. When Jerry Jones dumped Micah Parsons, everybody in the world said they won't win another game. He has destroyed the team. You among others, and everybody said it.

Well, Jerry traded for a couple of defenders too. He did. And now their defense, while not great, it's adequate. And their offense is more than adequate. Because Dak Prescott throwing to C.D. Lamb and George Pickens, that's a threat every place on a field. What if they beat Detroit this week? What if they go through those three teams in a row?

What would you think then? I'll be shocked. They would threaten the Eagles for the division. And I'd be shocked at that. Let me just start saying stuff now. Since every other network show just sits around proclaiming crazy stuff all week long, usually starting their money, let me proclaim something. The Detroit Lions are going to stuff your Dallas.

Calvert. Not my doubt's calendar. You're cheering for him. Not a cheer for them. You think they can go. I'm asking you, I'm asking you to consider what they have done lately. It's been terrific. That five-day stretch was tremendous. Thursday night in Detroit, beat down. Let's move to the biggest story in college football

this past weekend. Lane Kiffin jumping from Ole Miss to conference rival LSU. Ole Miss is 11 and surely headed for the college playoffs. Ole Miss has barred Kiffin from coaching this team in the playoffs, even though Kiffin publicly said he wants to. Ole Miss has said, tell it walking, pal.

Wilbon, what do you make of everyone's decisions here? Lane Kiffin has every right to go to LSU or wherever he wants to work. And Mississippi had better say, get the hell out. This is an acrimonious divorce. Get out. You are not going to spend the next six weeks if you go that far because you can win in the playoffs. That's right. Splitting your time, your emotions, your devotion, and your loyalty between LSU and Mississippi.

because anybody who thinks that LSU's people, their football program, is going to go on hiatus to Cancun for the next six weeks, waiting for Lane Kiffin is a fool. Lane Kiffin's loyalties this second forward are to LSU. Get out of Oxford. So this is what I love about the show, because we're going to have a real disagreement here, and I'm going to take some time here.

I'm in the minority. I believe that he should coach this team in the play. I believe that. I believe that Ole Miss should look short-term, and I think they're looking long-term. I understand why they hate him. I understand why they don't want him on campus. He didn't just leave for another school. He left for another school across the street. Across the street. So I understand that they hate him with the ardor of a thousand sons, all right? I understand being afraid of Lane Kiffin stealing your players, which he will do. Yes. Stealing your coaches, which he will do. During the week. While they're supposed to be prepping for a playoff game. I understand that. And Lane Kiffin basically said to Mississippi, I wouldn't stay here for all the money in the world. That's what they were going to give them all the money.

But they are in the playoffs for the first time. They haven't won anything in like 60 years. One of the reasons they're in the playoffs is because Lane Kiffin coached them into the playoffs. It was a great coach. I believe their best chance to win is with Lane Kiffin. And I believe this other guy, if and when he loses, because I don't think he's Steve Fisher. I don't think it's insane.

I was going to say, you're on record having praised Bo Schembeckland to the heavens to tell him. I don't think Bill Frieder is Lane Kiffin. I think Lane Kiffin is a better coach than that. And I think if this guy loses, it's going to be the greatest regret in Mississippi's career. Everybody in that administration. So, yes, I'm in the minority, but I would let him coach. Not only would I not let him coach, I would have run him out straight from the press conference. This is Lane Kiffin's move.

Let me say two things. More than one thing can be true. Lane Kiffin has developed, matured into, become a great college football coach. He is right now. He's also a louse. Okay. Okay. That's you.

No, no, no, no. Lane Kiffin is that. Okay. Because he's done this. He's a serial lever. That's what he does. The greatest coach in college football history probably, okay? A guy at Alabama.

He threw Lane Kiffin out with a week to go before a president. playoffs game, what does that tell you? Here's the only other thing that is irksome to me in this. He's a louser. I would not, well, that's your opinion. I would not, I don't know. I would not have picked LSU over Florida, not me. Because LSU has a history of firing

National Champion coaches. You know who's in the playoffs right now? Les Miles. Mississippi's in the playoff. He's leaving to go to a place that isn't. Not in the playoffs, yeah. And also the governor is involved. It just seems somewhat dicey to me. But I have a different opinion about Lane Kevin. And obviously, wait, wait, wait. You don't disagree with me about how great a coach he is.

No, I like that part. I don't know him personally. Let's take a break. When we come back, the Broncos gained a win last night, but did they lose some of our confidence? And some Steelers fans have seen enough. What could that mean for Mike? Would you want Lane Kiffin and coach Northwestern? Yes. Yes. Is he a louse? Pardon the interruption is presented by Gray Goose. Make time wait. Please enjoy responsibly, part of Happy Hour. Welcome back to Part of the Interruption, presented by Gray Goose, part of Happy Hour. It's time to find out what the email is dragged in.

I will get the first one, and I need glasses, because this print is very small. The first one is? Do you have more or less confidence in the Broncos as the number one seed after they edge the commanders in overtime? More. If we're talking about complementary football, they're in the top five in all the days. defensive categories that matter. And they've got a really good offense. And I don't have the questions about Bo Nix

that others seem to openly have. I don't get why people are still finding something to be critical when it comes to Bo Nix. And so last night they played a tough game. It was overtime game on the road in Washington. No, this does not diminish what I think of the Broncos. They went

on the road. They came up with a clutch play to prevent losing a nice batted ball. They're a team that is on a historic pace. for sacks allowed. They got a really fine defense in everywhere imaginable. What do they want? So let me first say that I really love the ending of that game. And it seemed to me that Washington had about two or three touchdowns called back because of penalties. So big ups to Marcus Marriota for hanging in there. And of course they went for two because they're three and eight at that

point. What is what is three eight and one? What does that do? So of course they go for two. As to this particular question, I'm going to echo something that you have said for a couple of weeks. I lose a little bit of confidence in every team every week because every team that we think is good seems to lose. As soon as we say they are good, they lose, so I lose a little bit of confidence. Why I retain confidence in the Broncos is because they play this way every week.

They have been behind in every single game. Sharpay pointed that out last night. And they've won 10 of them. So they know how to play these sorts of games. They do. You don't have to go out and beat somebody by 30. You got to beat them by three. That's the important.

If we're doing the Anthony I. Kornheiser power rankings right now in the AFC, do you have Denver number one? I'm waiting to see New England play a good team. No, not tonight.

Not tonight. Not tonight. No, not tonight. I'm waiting to see that. All right. Let's see what we got going on here. What's your reaction to Steelers fans chanting fire Tomlin during the Steelers' home

lost of the bills? So my reaction is, that that is pretty much what fans do. Fans do not look backwards into the glory years. Fans look at the moment, and at the moment, the Steelers are actually pretty lousy. They allowed unbelievable numbers here. Buffalo, 51 carries 249 yards.

Yikes. In 50 years allowed by the Steelers at home. I've said this to you for a while. The Steelers haven't passed the eye test all year. They haven't. Mike Tomlin, I could say to their fans, Mike Tomlin hasn't had a losing season and 19th season. That's amazing.

They will say, what has he done for us lately? The last 10. And lately, he has not won a playoff game. I think since 2016, 0 and 6 since that. Mike Tomlin's not going to get fired. In the same way, John Harbaugh is not going to get fired. No, they're not. You know, but these days, I don't put anything past anybody.

Mike Tomlin could want to leave. If he wants to leave, there are about 25 teams in a league that would say come over here, including the Giants. That's true. Including the Giants. But, first of all, it's just unseemly. for Steelers fans to chant fire Tomlin. Really?

Because if they fire him to go somewhere else, I will spend my entire life my second hardest route on Sunday after the Bears, for the Bears. Would be the root against Pittsburgh and whoever they bring in. Because I just think fans of almost all franchises. Pittsburgh doesn't do this. Just stupid. Pittsburgh doesn't do you.

This is beneath Steelers fans, except apparently it isn't. And Mike Tomlin should just, you know, take the temperature and say, you know what? there's 15 other franchises that will have me. At least. And by the way, it could be time. It could be time just to part company.

That's right. It doesn't have to. It could be like Andy Reid, who had a Super Bowl run in Philadelphia. Didn't win it but got there. The second stop got even better. That's right. Send him.

What's up for my time? I had enough email. Let's take one last break still to come. Kyle Palmerry tears his ACL, but does something remarkable as he skates off. And Max Rosmer makes the Vikings Miss Sam Donald a lot. That was rough.

How stupid do the Vikings look? They don't look smart. They don't look smart. They look stupid. Yeah, they do. They threw away a veteran quarterback who won 14 last year. Well, it was the last two that bothered them. They let them go.

How'd these last two, four, six, eight? How's that working out? Part of the interruption is presented by Gray Goose. Make time wait. Please enjoy responsibly. Part of Happy Hour. and in part by UFC 323 Saturday. Buy now at ESPNplus.com slash PPV.

Happy time, people. Happy belated 63rd birthday, Bo Jackson. This was yesterday. Bo Jackson may be the greatest professional athlete ever. He was an all-star in both baseball and football. He was an outfielder for the Kansas City Royals and a running back to the Raiders. There have been people who played two professional sports.

Dionne Sanders played both football and baseball. Danny Aange and Dave DeBusher played baseball and basketball. It's a notable achievement. But being an all-star in both sports was unprecedented until Bo Jackson did it. There's currently a running back on Ohio State named Bo Jackson. He went for 117 yards against Michigan. He's got a long way to go to be Bo Jackson. Our dear friend Dick Schap, I believe, voted when we had that panel of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

I believe he voted Bo Jackson won. He not only voted Bo Jackson one. he voted him over somebody he competed against in high school, Jim Brown, who was at one time the best football player and lacrosse player in the country. There's some similarities there between those two. Happy anniversary, Michael Vick. On this day, 23 years ago,

Vic set the NFL's single game rush record for a quarterback with 173 yards and beat the Vikings in overtime with this 46-yard run. Look at this. You will see Vic go around by and through a legion of Minnesota defenders who couldn't lay a glove. on him. This was before Vicks' involvement in a dog fighting ring sent him to prison for 21 months

after which he would make a comeback with the Eagles. Vicks 173 yards has since been surpassed by Colin Kaepernick's 188 yards in the playoffs against Green Bay in 2013 and Justin Fields 178 against Miami in the regular season in 2022. Dick is now head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans who are 1 and 11 this season and lost a Miak game to Deshawn Jackson's Delaware State team. Michael Vick, the greatest quarterback athlete you've ever seen? Right up there. Ahead of your boy, Randall Cunningham? Yeah, shortlist.

Head of Steve Young? No, no, not ahead of Steve Young. They're the same player. They're the same player, don't you think? Breathtaking. Yeah. Yeah, and their primes. Happy Trails, Kyle Palmeri.

The Islanders will miss their winger for six to eight months after he tore his ACL in a collision Friday night. In 25 games this season, Palmyri tallied 18 points, the last of which came after this injury. Watch him rise, head slowly toward the bench, then strip the puck from an oblivious flyer and start the scoring opportunity with a slick backhanded pass. Palmeri then continued straight through to the tunnel. Talk about hockey players being tough. It becomes like a cliche or you wink. No, no, no, no, no.

There are acts of toughness you see at a rink that you just don't see. see anywhere else, hardly ever. Well, Daniel Jones just played on a broken leg. He did. I'm not saying football players aren't tough. I'm going to say hockey players. They are by and large. One error. Matthew Stafford had thrown 28 touchdowns without an interception.

Not 29. That's my bad. My bad. What's really the difference, though? Big finish, here we go. Let's do it. Michigan State finalizing a deal with your Pat Fitzgerald, your thoughts. I think you come back. That's just it's fine. Fine. Kentucky fired head coach Mark Stoops. Is that deserved?

I'm not going to get into whether it's deserved. He was there 13 years. His overall record was 82 and 80. But this year, everybody's getting third prize. You're fired. Everybody's getting it. San Donald and the Seahawks beat the Vikings. You impressed with that?

Not particularly that game, but I'm impressed with Seattle. You know, I think they may be won in my power index. You've got in the WPI. Seattle. Yeah, okay. The dolphins of 1-4-5, Falcons have lost six of seven. You're all over Atlanta. Yeah.

They are the bigger deal. They stink. I don't want to hear about them again. Now, I think the Miami coach may well have saved his job with what he's doing now. But Atlanta, top down, it doesn't work. It is disappointment. Last one, Monday night football, two and ten Giants at the 10 and two Patriots. I'll bet you're smelling upset.

No, there's no upset. Even with Jackson Dart back. Let me just go back to our big story, Mr. Kiffin. I don't want it as my coach. Now I got a coach, Dave Braun. We're going places. He's not a louse. I don't want a louse.

I want the opposite of a louse. What is the opposite of a louse? Elise? What is the opposite? They're nice guy, great guy. We are out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. Uncle Jerry.

Shout out. Do you ever have Uncle Jerry's pretzels? No. I spoke to Uncle Jerry. That's a Philly thing, pretzels. I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.