Ole Miss had FBI sweep for Kiffin-planted bugs

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  Mark SchlabachAug 24, 2026, 02:19 PM ET

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  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

The executive director of Ole Miss' NIL collective said FBI agents searched the Rebels' football office for recording devices after former coach Lane Kiffin left for SEC rival LSU following the 2025 regular season.

Walker Jones, who co-founded the Grove Collective, told the Assorted Crackers podcast that FBI officials searched for bugs in the football offices at the Manning Center once Kiffin bolted for LSU after guiding the Rebels to an 11-1 record in the regular season and their first CFP berth.

"We actually had the FBI come through and walk the building for bugs and for everything," Jones told the podcast. "We knew kind of what was in Baton Rouge, and we knew how they operated. I remember getting on my knees and looking underneath the desk, like checking for, 'Is there some sort of bug in my office?'"

When asked why he was looking under his desk, said Jones: "Trust me, you don't know this guy [Kiffin] like I do."

The Rebels promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach on the same day that Kiffin left.

Kiffin ended up taking several Ole Miss assistants with him to LSU, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Joe Cox, receivers coach George McDonald, running backs coach Kevin Smith and general manager Billy Glasscock.

Kiffin allowed Weis, McDonald, Cox and assistant receivers coach Dane Stevens and slot receivers coach Sawyer Jordan to return to Ole Miss and coach in the CFP.

After defeating Tulane 41-10 in a CFP first-round game at home, the Rebels upset No. 3 Georgia in a quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss fell to Miami 31-27 in a CFP semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl.

Jones said he had to work hard to keep the Tigers from poaching some of the Rebels' best players. Four Ole Miss players transferred to LSU: defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker TJ Dottery, receiver Winston Watkins Jr. and offensive tackle Devin Harper.

The Tigers also wanted star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and tailback Kewan Lacy.

"I spent several nights sleeping at the Manning Center and [worked] 24/7 to keep our roster, and to keep the program going," said Jones, who played linebacker at Ole Miss from 1996-99. "And what people don't realize, too, is half the staff was going to LSU.

"So, we literally had to have two different text threads, two different staff meetings. We had to ask coaches to leave the room. No hall room conversations. Nothing written down, nothing written on the grease boards in the office, because half the staff was literally, we were going to be competing against."

The No. 9 Rebels host the No. 11 Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in their SEC opener on Sept. 19 (TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).