Florida Makes Surprise Coaching Interview Amid Lane Kiffin News

The Florida Gators appear to have Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin as the No. 1 target for their national coaching search.

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However, the Rebels head coach has said he intends to coach the program in the “Egg Bowl” against Mississippi State on Nov. 28. Ole Miss reportedly wants an answer from Kiffin about his coaching future before playing the Bulldogs.

LSU and Florida would surely like an answer from Kiffin by then as well.

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On Wednesday, Kiffin told reporters during his Wednesday SEC teleconference that he planned to be on the sidelines coaching Ole Miss against Mississippi State.

“Do you know something that I don’t know?” Kiffin said, via Sports Illustrated. “Do I expect to coach next week? Why would I not expect to coach next week? I mean, I expected to coach against Florida too. So I don’t even understand the question about how I would not expect to coach next week. Why would I (not) be at work?” 

“I mean, we’re game planning, we just practiced, I don’t even understand how that would happen. I must be missing something.”

With Kiffin committed to finishing the regular season at Ole Miss and former LSU head coach Nick Saban advising Kiffin of the open job in Baton Rouge, Florida isn’t sitting idle in its search to replace Billy Napier.

Per Zach Abolverdi of On3, the Gators are set to interview Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall on Thursday.

“BREAKING: Florida to meet with Tulane coach Jon Sumrall about the Gators job,” Abolverdi posted on X.

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Sumrall, 43, is 17-7 during his two seasons with the Green Wave. Sumrall would be a surprising hire for a prestigious program like Florida, as he has no experience as a head coach at the Power 4 level.

On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff selection committee ranked 8-2 Tulane No. 24 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The committee put the Green Wave as the No. 12 seed in the playoff, and they would play No. 5 Texas Tech in the first round.

Sumrall went 23-4 during his two seasons with Troy.

Sumrall’s name has been linked as a possible candidate for SEC programs like Auburn and LSU. He could be a strong option B for Florida if Kiffin chooses to remain at Ole Miss or takes the job at LSU.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.