Ole Miss closes the regular season as one of college football’s surprise powerhouses — a 10-1 record this year and a top-10 ranking that has the Rebels squarely in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Those results come on the heels of multiple double-digit win seasons under Lane Kiffin, who has rebuilt Ole Miss into a consistent winner in the SEC.
However, after weeks of speculation that Kiffin could leave Oxford for Gainesville, multiple outlets report Florida has begun lining up other candidates and isn’t operating under the assumption it will land Kiffin.
Sources simultaneously are saying LSU is prepared to make an all-in push — including reported, mega-value offers — to secure him.
That shift in Florida’s posture, combined with national media leaning toward LSU, is the clearest signal yet that Baton Rouge may have the upper hand in the race.
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Recent reports say LSU is preparing a long-term, high-value package (widely reported figures of more than $90 million over several years, plus roster/operational investment) to bring Kiffin to Baton Rouge.
Booster activity, housing visits, and family trips to the region have been widely reported over the past few weeks.
With Florida already kickstarting contingency plans and interviewing alternatives, it appears that Florida has effectively removed Kiffin from its board altogether.
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Ole Miss AD Keith Carter publicly said an announcement about Kiffin’s future would be made the day after the Egg Bowl — placing the decision window for Saturday.
If Florida is indeed pulling back, this completely changes the competitive landscape of a marquee SEC hiring cycle.
Taken together, the coverage points to LSU as the most likely landing spot, but nothing posted yet constitutes a finalized hire.
For Ole Miss, a departure would create immediate operational questions — recruiting, staff retention, and whether the Rebels will try to prepare a quick replacement — all while the team eyes its first-ever CFP berth.
