The No. 1 name on everybody’s lips for the Florida job is Lane Kiffin. He was at the top of the list immediately after Billy Napier’s exit, despite being in the midst of a crucial period in the season. It’s got to affect his own players and staff in a way, considering how loud these rumors are becoming. Lane Kiffin addressed the situation with his team in a smart move.

Emerging as an SEC leader after 6 years of trying to revive the program is what makes Kiffin a top candidate for the Florida job. That chatter has caught so much fire that he couldn’t help but discuss the situation with his team. Kiffin addressed the situation on a gracious note. “That’s a product of having a program with a lot of players and coaches doing a really good job,” he told SEC Network when asked about the meeting amidst the Florida buzz. Lane Kiffin also casually pointed at the success that has come with his leadership at Oxford.

“I wouldn’t even mention it, because they’ve been through this every year, probably four years in a row,” he said. We know that Auburn really pushed for Kiffin after firing Bryan Harsin. “But we had so many new players, I just told them, ‘Hey guys, this is what happens around here because we win games, and people like the style that we play in.’ So that is all about a compliment to the player,” he added. Kiffin and Ole Miss have both consistently grown in these past few years. Now, the Rebels are a unit that has become too big to ignore.

This year, Kiffin might very well be able to go over the hump of coming close to making the playoffs. He has a trailblazing QB in Trinidad Chambliss and has an offense that ranks Top 10 nationally. Moreover, his wonders at developing quality quarterbacks also shine in his resume. Take Jaxson Dart, for example. Kiffin is now building Ole Miss to be on par with the best in the SEC. His 2026 class is the 20th best in the cycle, which is a great feat. If and when Kiffin does leave, he’ll have a legacy that is one of the best in the history of the program.

His success at Ole Miss has repeatedly put him as a favorite for multiple coaching jobs. However, it is those guys in the maroon and white that have him down to be in Oxford for longer than everybody thinks. That loyalty is the biggest roadblock for anyone trying to poach Lane Kiffin away.

Paul Finebaum on where the Lane Kiffin-Florida situation stands

Kiffin has always credited being at Oxford as the change that pushed him to grow better in life. He’s on a level of zen as the HC of Ole Miss. Florida is definitely a bigger program than Ole Miss. A flashy name like Kiffin’s seems a perfect fit for a stage like the Swamp. But the development he’s brought forward at Oxford is what will likely keep him away from Gainesville.

“It’s a tug of war with him right now,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “I think he really does love where he is,” he added. However, he also pointed out one hurdle that can force Kiffin to turn his attention to these jobs. “If Lane Kiffin is not in the playoff this year, I think there’s a higher likelihood that he could leave,” Finebaum noted. Ole Miss is coming back after their first loss of the season to Georgia. The playoffs are still very much in the picture. Even if Kiffin loses to Oklahoma, a 10-2 score can earn him an at-large bid.

But Kiffin leaving after the bare minimum is a little uncharacteristic. He doesn’t rest unless he meets the highest possible mark within his reach. Will one trip to the Playoffs be enough to sate the HC’s thirst for success? Kiffin has now become synonymous with Ole Miss—it’ll be hard for him to leave a program that has now become home.