Sports
Lane Kiffin regrets making mess of Ole Miss exit
Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Lane Kiffin accepted his third SEC head-coaching job in 17 years when he agreed to leave Ole Miss for LSU at the end of the regular season in November.
Eight months later, Kiffin admitted he would have done things differently if granted a redo. Kiffin said he would have hit the exit when Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter told him he couldn’t stick around to coach the team when he already had agreed to leave for LSU.
“I wish I would have gone in when I met with Keith and said, ‘I’ve made the decision to go,'” Kiffin said. “I wish I would have just said, ‘Hey, I’d like to coach the team,’ and he’d say, ‘No.’ And I’d say, ‘Hey, OK, I appreciate it.’ Move on [and] never even discussed it again.”
Ole Miss was 11-1 in the regular season and booked a spot in the College Football Playoff as Kiffin weighed offers from two other SEC programs — LSU and Florida. He met with Carter following the Rebels’ rivalry game with Mississippi State before his decision became public along with Kiffin’s claim he was fighting to coach Ole Miss in the CFP.
Kiffin won’t have to wait all that long to see several of his former players and coaches. LSU visits Ole Miss on Sept. 19 for a matchup of Kiffin and his former top assistant, Pete Golding. The Rebels’ defensive coordinator was promoted to head coach upon Kiffin’s departure for Baton Rouge.
Congress included language in its proposed college sports regulatory legislation for a “Lane Kiffin Rule” within the Protect College Sports Act.
On Thursday, Kiffin said he didn’t know about it because “I don’t read anything” and has given up social media.
“Like, you just said that, and I didn’t know that until you said it,” Kiffin claimed. “You know, I guess in that I hope that some way for future coaches they’re not put in that situation. You know, the NFL, you’re never put in that situation because of the calendar and because of the rules of movement within seasons.
“I do hope for future people that’s fixed so that you’re not in that same predicament for players, for coaches, which really was a player issue, too. Then we fixed that with moving the portal date back. That was more of an issue earlier in the postseason, too, as you saw players having to leave teams to get into the portal during the season. Hopefully some way they fix it for coaches, too.”
Kiffin, who served as Alabama offensive coordinator and was head coach at Tennessee, feels he ultimately made the right call to replace Brian Kelly at LSU. His mistake? Expecting everyone to appreciate or understand it.
“I made a challenging decision in change,” Kiffin said. “I think as I look back to that, I thought I could find a way for everybody to understand. Now as I look back later on, that was never going to happen.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Celtics F Jordan Walsh agrees to 3-year, $15M extension
Apr 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jordan Walsh (27) reacts after his basket against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images The Boston Celtics have locked up the services of forward Jordan Walsh through the 2029-30 season, ESPN reported Thursday.
Boston picked up its $2.4 million option for 2026-27 and added a three-year, $15 million extension, per the report.
Walsh, 22, averaged 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 17.8 minutes in 68 games (25 starts) during the 2025-26 season.
The 2023 second-round draft pick has career averages of 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds through 129 games (27 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Panthers extend naming-rights deal, reveal reimagined stadium
Sep 16, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; A general view of the exterior of Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Griffin Zetterberg-Imagn Images The Carolina Panthers and Bank of America agreed to extend their long-term stadium naming-rights deal, with the team sharing on Thursday what the reimagined Bank of America Stadium will look like by the time renovations are finished in 2030.
The bank has held naming rights since 2004, with terms of the new contract not disclosed.
The 30-year-old stadium will undergo a $1.3 billion overhaul, with team owner David Tepper contributing an additional $500 million to the project, which initially had an $800 million budget. The city of Charlotte already has agreed to pay $650 million toward the improvements, which were conceived to transform the facility into more than a football-only destination.
“For over three decades, Bank of America Stadium has helped create lasting memories for our fans and we’re excited for them to see what’s ahead,” Tepper said in a news release. “Our goal is to create experiences that enhance the passion and energy of the region while transforming this corridor into a weekend destination for world-class sports, entertainment and community events.”
The Carolinas MO????????UM is here. See the future of Bank of America Stadium. pic.twitter.com/t7lAQuvoI3
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 23, 2026
Plans call for a new “social patio” on the 500 level, additional fan gathering areas, new scoreboards and renovated locker rooms and offices. A 4,400-seat entertainment venue is planned to be added next to the stadium.
Work already has started on a field house that was part of the original project.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richard Carapaz conquers Stage 18 in Tour de France
Richard Carapaz celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win Stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday. Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz climbed into the overall top 10 at the Tour de France with his Stage 18 victory in the Alps on Thursday.
Carapaz, 33, finished the mountainous 185.2-kilometer trek from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette in 4 hours, 26 minutes and 21 seconds. He pulled away on the last ascent of the day and covered the final 3 kilometers solo.
Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid was the runner-up for the second straight day, 45 seconds behind, and American Matteo Jorgenson placed third.
Carapaz moved into 10th place in the overall standings.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia still leads the competition by 4 minutes and 32 seconds over Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel. Mexico’s Isaac del Toro is third, followed by 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas and Spain’s Juan Ayuso.
Stage 19 on Friday is a 127.9-kilometer route through the mountains from Gap to Alpe d’Huez. The 113th edition of the Tour de France concludes on Sunday in Paris.
–Field Level Media
Instagram is coming for creepy Meta glasses videos
Report: Celtics F Jordan Walsh agrees to 3-year, $15M extension
