With college football’s regular season winding down this week, one of the biggest storylines was Lane Kiffin and the decision of leaving his current role as head coach at Ole Miss for the same position at LSU. And the man that ended up in the eye of the turmoil turned out to be ESPN’s Marty Smith.
Smith found himself assigned to be in Oxford on Saturday after covering the Rebels 38-19 win over rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl Friday in Starkville in the event that the announcement of Kiffin’s departure came down. That would lead to a marathom day that kept the ESPN reporter inside the athletic department’s offices until the wee hours of Sunday morning waiting for word. And even after a long day of “hurry up and wait” (as we called it in the military), Smith kept his sense of humor about the situation.
When Dari Nowkhah of the SEC Network asked Smith on his last hit of the night if he had reached out to Kiffin to see if an announcement was coming during the night, Smith went to his phone for the answer.
“I wrote [Kiffin] at 8:46 [p.m.] Central Time and said ‘Will there be a resolution tonight? Please God in Heaven tell me yes.'” Smith said, prompting a laugh from Nowkhah. “And he did not write me back on that one.”
“The overwhelming sentiment here is that his unwillingness to commit to Ole Miss is a glaring indicator of his desire to go. They feel like if he was staying, he would’ve already said so.”@MartySmithESPN with the latest on Lane Kiffin: pic.twitter.com/B2vMlKACV4
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 30, 2025
The stick-to-it mindset from Smith of course would lauch a number of memes about the situation.
Shoutout to the true hero of the Lane Kiffin saga: Marty Smith. Man’s been at the Ole Miss facility for 24+ hours… in the SAME SUIT. 😂 ESPN needs to give this guy a raise. 🕴️💪 #MartySmith #CommitmentGoals #SuitOnFire pic.twitter.com/AndkpfvmhE
— Ryan Murdoch (@CoachB1621) November 30, 2025
<3:37AM Central Time>
“Let’s check in with Marty Smith, who’s standing by in Oxford, Mississippi.” pic.twitter.com/QKfTE1Vg24
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) November 30, 2025
Marty Smith by the time Lane Kiffin makes his decision pic.twitter.com/B6mz0e7syx
— . (@GoatPoint30) November 30, 2025
Hello, my name is Marty Smith and I miss my family dearly, please let them know I will return as soon as Lane Kiffin makes up his damn mind. pic.twitter.com/iSHVgG9Lgp
— MyBookie – Bet With The Best (@MyBookie) November 30, 2025
The year is 2044
Lane Kiffin has still not made his decision. Marty Smith has not seen his wife or kids in 19 years
Akron has won back to back Nattys pic.twitter.com/aks4wXCcL2
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 30, 2025
“I have no idea what Lane Kiffin will decide, but ESPN has locked the door from the outside. My phone has no service. I have not heard from my family in hours. I have eaten nothing but saltines and tap water since noon. Once again, this is Marty Smith in Oxford. Send help.” pic.twitter.com/aZuD5bN0DL
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) November 30, 2025
ESPN waking up Marty Smith to cover Lane Kiffin for another 24 hours: pic.twitter.com/LRNPvAX8eP
— Owen Schmitts Burner (@runawaybeertrck) November 30, 2025
Smith Gets The Last Laugh In The Story
But credit Smith and his tenacity going into the second day of anticipation, as the report that Kiffin was leaving Oxford on Sunday to head to Baton Rouge to be introduced as the new Tigers head coach Monday finally got moving. First, he and fellow ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel got the news about the meeting with the team that eventually took place Sunday afternoon, followed by breaking the news that defensive coordinator Pete Golding would be Kiffin’s replacement.
One of the Ole Miss players, I’m not sure who, working to find out, just exited the meeting and yelled, “It’s the Pete Golding era!”
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) November 30, 2025
Then Smith got to the airport in Oxford, and was able to speak directly with Kiffin as he was preparing to get on the private plane (ironically, the one Kiffin denied Saturday was coming to get him) and head to Baton Rouge.
My interview with @Lane_Kiffin prior to his departure from Oxford to Baton Rouge.
•Why he chose LSU over Ole Miss
•Why he wasn’t in Sunday’s Ole Miss team meeting
•His response to not coaching Ole Miss in the playoff
•Why this took so long
•Peter Carroll’s important msg pic.twitter.com/GfBkE7fnHU— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) December 1, 2025
When all was said and done, there turned out to be plenty of praise for Smith and his diligence over the weekend.
Marty Smith it’s okay, we have the watch now. See you in Valhalla. pic.twitter.com/kTPGTI6EtN
— Critter Carl🇹🇹🇫🇷 (@nikeeelitesocks) November 30, 2025
The devil works hard but Marty Smith works harder.
— Rivers Hughey (@RivsHughey) November 30, 2025
He doesn’t need any pay on the back from me but one thing I’ve learned during the last few days, @MartySmithESPN is a pros pro.
Beside being a terrific journalist, he’s just a really good guy.
I watched him speak to everyone at the IPF today, never saying no to a picture.
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) December 1, 2025
