The date was Monday, November 17, 2025. I was sitting in the Baton Rouge airport, ready to depart back home. Keep in mind, this came following the first game without Brian Kelly since 2021 — a game I attended that resulted in a lackluster 23-22 victory over a two-win Arkansas team.

As I scrolled through X to kill some time before my flight, I started seeing reports that Lane Kiffin might be on his way to Baton Rouge to meet with LSU officials. I immediately turned to my buddy to show him, thinking to myself, “What if?”

Fast forward two weeks later to November 30th, and Lane Kiffin was officially announced as the head football coach of the LSU Tigers. The college football world was set ablaze. For weeks, it felt like Lane Kiffin and LSU was all anyone wanted to talk about. Every talking head seemed eager to chime in and capitalize — monetarily or otherwise — on the sheer magnitude of the situation. Despite Indiana’s undefeated season, Lane Kiffin to LSU still somehow felt bigger.

Since then, Lane and his staff have assembled the number one rated transfer portal class in the country — showing everyone that he meant exactly as he said during his introductory press conference back in December. One of the main reasons Kiffin gave in departing Ole Miss for seemingly greener pastures at LSU was that this place is “Just Different,” and he has shown his desire to prove exactly that.

Speaking from the heart of a fan, I felt a sigh of relief knowing that better days were ahead. A fresh face, a new regime, and a new era at LSU was set to begin. For most — if not all — of the fanbase, it was time. Time to right the wrongs of the previous regime and get back to winning ways. Something was missing: the attitude, swagger, and culture of LSU’s past. This was something Tiger fans did not feel the previous head coach truly embraced. That is exactly why I, like many others, believe Lane Kiffin is the right man for the job. I think I can speak for most college football fans when I say Brian Kelly was not very well-received in Baton Rouge. He tried very hard with his recruiting dance videos and many other viral disasters, but no one was buying it. Most importantly, Louisiana did not buy it.

Everything about it felt forced — forced attempts to embrace the fans, the culture, and the way things are expected to be at LSU.

As we now approach the middle of May, I have noticed the intent and effort that Coach Kiffin has been putting in trying to embrace all that comes with being the head man at LSU. With Lane, it all feels effortless. Whether it’s his Instagram stories featuring music from Louisiana hip-hop icons, casually sporting Kobe Bryant Nike sneakers, or meeting with LSU legends of the past; it all feels authentic.

As the college football world awaits a primetime showdown on September 5th in Death Valley; the expectations will grow, the chatter will increase, and the butterflies in our stomachs will begin to flutter. A loaded roster, a star-studded coaching staff, and a fanbase desperate to return to the promised land are all looming. This is the chance to restore a proud brand of people, football, and culture to its former glory. All the makings of something special are brewing in the heart of Louisiana.

This feels… “Just Different.”



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