Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Demond Williams, Lane Kiffin pairing at LSU would be perfect for the wrong reasons

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 1:48 PM ET

Shocking college football news came out of Seattle on Tuesday when it was revealed that Washington QB Demond Williams, who previously signed a deal with UW to stay and play for the Huskies, intended to enter the transfer portal.

Washington appears to be focused on retaining Williams, with ESPN's Pete Thamel indicating that the university will "pursue all legal avenues" in an attempt to enforce the contract he signed.

If Williams does leave Washington, however, one school in particular appears to be the frontrunner to get him - LSU, coached by Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin made waves across the sports world at the end of November when he decided to leave Ole Miss, a program he had built into a College Football Playoff contender, to go to Baton Rouge.

LSU is expected to be a team to watch as a possibility with Washington QB transfer Demond Williams, sources tell me and @chris_hummer pic.twitter.com/zcjTYnPUon
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 7, 2026

It was the latest soap opera in a career full of them for Kiffin, who became infamous for being fired from the Oakland Raiders via a telephone call with Mark Davis, leaving the University of Tennessee after just one season as head coach and being left at the airport by USC after being fired.

Why Lane Kiffin, Demond Williams pairing makes sense

From a football perspective, Williams and Kiffin could make for must-see TV.

For all of the opinions on his off-field conduct, Kiffin is an offensive guru who has proven his worth on the sideline. Williams threw for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns for Washington in 2025 and led the Huskies to a 9-4 record.

There's reason to think that a proven QB-HC combo in Williams and Kiffin could turn the Tigers back into contenders in Year 1 of the Kiffin era in Baton Rouge.

On a more cynical note, the pairing of Kiffin, who is willing to pack his bags after a gust of wind, and Williams, who is trying to wiggle his way out of a contract he already signed in search of another school, would be a fitting one for all the wrong reasons.

At the end of the day, it might be a combination that wins football games, too.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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