Ole Miss confirmed Saturday that Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin has been named its next head football coach.
Kiffin, who told his Florida Atlantic team about the move after the Owls defeated UAB 49-6 in the Conference USA championship on Saturday, will be introduced Monday afternoon on the Oxford, Miss., campus.
"I couldn't be more excited to welcome coach Kiffin to the Ole Miss family," athletic director Keith Carter said in a statement. "As we entered this process, we were looking for energy, innovativeness and a program builder who could excite our student-athletes and fans. Coach Kiffin checked every box and is a home run for our program. I look forward to locking arms with him to take Ole Miss football to a championship level."
The school had a creative way to announce the hire on Twitter at 12:30 p.m. CT Saturday, showing a GIF of white smoke emerging from a campus building. It follows in the tradition of the Catholic church when a new pope is elected.
--Florida State is set to hire Mike Norvell of Memphis as its new coach, according to multiple reports.
The university has called a press conference for Sunday to officially introduce its new coach. The school didn't mention the identity of the hire.
Norvell was coaching Memphis on Saturday afternoon when Florida State sent out its announcement advisory. The American Athletic Conference championship game against Cincinnati was in the third quarter, and the Tigers went on to beat the Bearcats 29-24.
--Two suspended Nebraska redshirt freshmen have entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.
Wide receiver Andre Hunt and tight end Katerian LeGrone allegedly violated the school's sexual misconduct policy. They were suspended indefinitely before the start of the season, and an ESPN report this week said they faced a suspension of 2 1/2 years.
No charges have been filed, but the investigation is continuing. It is unclear how much interest either player would draw given the possibility of facing criminal action. ESPN's report said the punishment stemmed from a rape accusation on Aug. 25, adding the length of the suspension was set to allow the alleged victim to finish her studies "free from a hostile environment."
--Howard head football coach Ron Prince resigned in the wake of allegations he verbally abused and was hostile toward his players and staff.
The first-year coach was placed on administrative leave in early November after a parent of a Howard player sent a letter to HBCU Gameday that alleged, "Prince has been threatening, hostile, abusive and disrespectful of the young men and coaching staff at Howard University since his arrival."
The school immediately began an investigation that culminated in Prince's resignation. Until a coach is hired, director of football operations Aaron Kelton will take charge of the program.
--Field Level Media