As the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, Lane Kiffin’s tenure has been marked by success and stability.
As a matter of fact, this year’s Rebs are the best team Kiffin’s had during his stint in Oxford. Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss is certainly seen as a legitimate national title contender.
Despite all of this, recent rumors have circulated suggesting that Kiffin could be a potential candidate for the Florida Gators’ head coaching position if (and when) Billy Napier’s tenure comes to an end.
However, ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis has weighed in, dismissing the idea that Kiffin would leave Ole Miss for Florida.
Davis addressed the speculation, emphasizing that Kiffin’s current position at Ole Miss is more advantageous than a potential move to Gainesville.
Davis pointed out that while Florida may be looking to make a coaching change, Ole Miss’ structure, especially in terms of NIL resources, gives Kiffin the upper hand in maintaining control and continuing to recruit effectively.
“We’re in the middle of September,” Davis said. “I’m not the biggest fan about this, but you also can’t ignore the obvious and you also can’t ignore the obvious and pretend they won’t go after Lane Kiffin.
“As we sit here right now, in the current state of football – college football – and the way player acquisitions go and the way alignment goes and the way the coach likes to be in charge and have things his way, Lane Kiffin has a better job right now.
“He is at best making a lateral move … And it’s not because Ole Miss is better than Florida right now. It’s because they can get in on players right now. They’re aligned with their NIL, he makes the decisions, he’s in charge. Lane has a better job.”
Under Kiffin’s leadership, Ole Miss currently sits at 3-0 and is ranked No. 5 in the country. While winning the SEC will be a tough task, it would be a shock if the Rebels don’t qualify for the expanded playoff field.
Kiffin has done a great job in recruiting and has been very effective working the transfer portal.
While there’s no denying Florida is a bigger program from a historical and overall “brand” standpoint, the fact of the matter is the Gators are such a mess right now that – as Davis said – a move to Gainesville would be lateral at best.
When Kiffin first took the job, many people looked at Ole Miss as merely a stepping-stone.
However, as time has gone on, it’s become clear that Kiffin has matured greatly and doesn’t have the wandering eye he used to.
After he recently turned down Auburn, Kiffin stated that he sees Oxford as much more than just a temporary home and that his family has played a major role in his new outlook.
Having said all of that, there are plenty of people who are hesitant to ever take Kiffin at his word. That’s just the way it’s always going to be.
Interestingly, the expanded 12-team playoff field presents a new challenge for programs searching for new coaches as more teams than ever will remain alive for postseason contention.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel spoke on that point and how it could affect Florida’s (expected) coaching search.
“The complications of hiring a coach in 2024 haven’t really been fully articulated,” Thamel said. “Let’s just say you get a Florida fan wish list, right? You start with Lane Kiffin. Let’s bring Lane Kiffin in. Other names if you’re going big game hunting here.
“Wish List, fever dream, message board list, right? Kiffin, James Franklin, Eliah Drinkwitz, Matt Campbell, Matt Rhule, Mike Gundy, all those guys right now are in playoff contention. Say you want to put a coach in place, November 15th, right? If you’re going to fire your coach early, you want to get going.
“Obviously you got to have the portal. And the Signing Day are now early December in that last week of November, first week of December, early December period, you got to get everything together. I think a lot of casual fans probably don’t know that the college football playoff title game is January 20th.
“So even say you want Georgia DC Glenn Schuman, right? And that’s the guy you want. And you’re gonna go hire him November 15th. He may not actually come to campus to be your coach for seven weeks.”
Interesting times in the college football world, that’s for sure.
Getting back to Kiffin, do you agree with Davis that leaving Ole Miss for Florida would be a lateral move at best?
Do you think there’s any chance Lane actually considers it?
Who should be Florida’s top three targets assuming Napier is indeed a goner???
