Lane Kiffin may have stumbled during his NFL stint, but he's borrowing a key pro concept for his new role at LSU: a player fine system. The Tigers' head coach announced the move on the Pardon My Take podcast, explaining that the era of NIL deals and the transfer portal has created new challenges—and his solution is to treat players like professionals, complete with financial consequences.
"With NIL and the portal, there's a lot of problems that have been created," Kiffin said. "I think with them getting paid, I don't think that's as challenging. I don't think it's as challenging to get guys to do things because we're paying you. If you don't want to do it, there's a fine system, just like the NFL. I find it's actually easier."
Kiffin's approach is straightforward: players who skip workouts, film study, or other team obligations will face fines, mirroring the NFL's disciplinary structure. He believes this taps into the pro mindset many players already hold. "They kind of, in their mind, think they're like pros now—which is good. That's how we talk to them. So you've got high expectations," he added.
The most striking part of Kiffin's plan? Players who want to avoid their duties can simply "go see the GM and give back half your money." He specifically referenced LSU general manager Billy Glasscock as the point person for these conversations. "If you want to be a normal student and not really do all those things, that's fine," Kiffin said. "Go see the GM and give back half your money, if you want to do half the work. So that way, I think it's a little bit easier that way."
Kiffin also warned that players who repeatedly fail to meet expectations could face the ultimate consequence: getting cut. "You bring them in, 'Hey, this is what you need to do.' And if you don't, there's a fine system for those things, but also, what's going to happen at the end of the year? You're going to get cut."
However, the system isn't without potential legal pitfalls. Unlike the NFL, where fines are governed by a collective bargaining agreement with a players union, college football players have no such union. That means a player could theoretically refuse to pay, and Kiffin might have no legal recourse to collect. LSU could face legal action if it tries to enforce fines without a formal agreement, though in practice, players would likely lose their roster spots before taking the fight to court.
This isn't the first time Kiffin has stirred the pot since arriving in Baton Rouge. The move echoes his recent running feud with Paul Finebaum, who called Kiffin's "Wizard of Oz" act a deliberate jab at Ole Miss. It also follows a broader trend of NFL players pushing for permanent changes to playing surfaces, showing how pro-style debates are filtering into college football.
For now, Kiffin's fine system is a bold experiment in a sport where the line between amateur and professional continues to blur. Whether it holds up legally or culturally remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: LSU players are getting a taste of the NFL life—complete with the financial sting of skipping work.
