Ole Miss is facing a significant staff transition as several of its offensive coaches prepare to move to LSU, where former head coach Lane Kiffin has taken over. Despite the potential loss of key personnel, the team is ensuring that at least one essential member of the offensive staff remains in place for the upcoming College Football Playoff semifinals.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is currently in Oxford and will continue to lead the Rebels’ offense through at least this week’s semifinals game, according to head coach Pete Golding. Weis Jr. is expected to take over as the offensive coordinator at LSU once the opportunity arises. However, other position coaches may not be making the trip with the team.

Kevin Smith, the running backs coach, has already left Oxford and will not return for the semifinals, as reported by 247Sports’ Chase Parham. Additionally, tight ends coach Joe Cox, receivers coach George McDonald, analyst Dan Stevens (quarterbacks), and graduate assistant Sawyer Jordan (slot receivers) are also in a state of uncertainty. These coaches are reportedly staying in Baton Rouge to assist with recruiting efforts following the opening of the transfer portal on Friday.

Golding, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after Kiffin left for LSU, has been in regular communication with both LSU and Kiffin regarding the staffing situation. Kiffin expressed similar sentiments in a statement to ESPN, emphasizing that Ole Miss has the opportunity to make decisions about their coaching staff.

“Up to this point, that is how it’s been and that’s my expectation,” Golding said. “I don’t dictate whether they do that or not because they’re not employed by me.”

The uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff has been a topic of discussion since Kiffin’s departure in December. He brought eight assistants from Ole Miss to his new role at LSU. However, many of these coaches remained in Oxford through the first two rounds of the playoff, including the 41-10 win against Tulane and the thrilling 39-34 victory over Georgia.

The timing of the transfer portal opening on January 1 adds complexity to the situation. Both schools are expected to host visiting players this weekend. FBS programs can now have an unlimited number of coaches, which has helped reduce the workload for teams. Golding highlighted this change, noting that the building is filled with elite coaches who have experience in various roles.

“We’ve got a lot of coaches here,” Golding said. “This building is filled with guys that have been elite coaches everywhere they’ve been. Once (the NCAA) eliminated the rule to where there’s not 10 coaches, as long as they’re employed here, you can have a million coaches that can instruct on the field.”

Golding admitted he is unsure when he will receive clarity on the staffing situation. Ole Miss is set to depart for the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, with the kickoff scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“It’s grown people making decisions, so I have no idea,” he said. “So we’re gonna go out there and spot the ball. We’ve got plenty of people in this building that showed up this morning. We’ll be just fine.”

LSU has not yet responded to CBS Sports’ request for comment.