In just eight weeks of college football, Lane Kiffin has become the most wanted man in the state of Florida. And honestly, why wouldn’t he be? The former Saban disciple has taken Ole Miss to new heights in the 2025 campaign. The Rebels are one of the hottest teams in the country, ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll with a 6–1 record — their only loss coming to Georgia in an absolute 43–35 shootout. Now, word on the street is that everybody wants a piece of Kiffin, especially the Florida Gators. Analysts like Josh Pate and others have been predicting that Kiffin could take a coaching job elsewhere. However, Lane Kiffin’s heart seems deeply attached to Mississippi.

On October 22, Ole Miss insider page Sidelines–Ole Miss released an emotional clip of Kiffin’s speech about the Ole Miss family and questioned, “How can anyone hear the impact that Oxford has had on Lane Kiffin’s life and family, and still think he wants to be anywhere but here?” They added, “Lane Kiffin is Oxford. Oxford is home. He’s not going anywhere ❤💙.” The post also shared a touching video showing Kiffin’s vulnerability as he spoke about the Hotty Toddy family.

Lane said, “It’s just been an amazing experience, and I just have so much appreciation — I’m not saying this as a head coach, I don’t give you coach speak. The people of Oxford, and then when you lose your parents, and you see how they are and how they help take care of them towards the end, or how much they really cared about them, it just opened my eyes in a totally different way.” Ole Miss did in fact open Lane Kiffin’s eyes.  Lane Kiffin’s coaching story is everything about growing up and changing. When he was young and naive, he became a head coach very fast — in the NFL and at big schools like Tennessee and USC. But he moved from job to job quickly and made mistakes that hurt his reputation.

Many folks thought he was too cocky to a be a loyal-esque head coach and wouldn’t last as a serious coach. Getting fired in public at USC became a symbol of his early failures. Over time, Kiffin learned from those experiences. Working under Nick Saban at Alabama helped him mature and become one of the smartest offensive coaches in football. At Florida Atlantic and now Ole Miss, he’s built winning teams and shown he can stay and lead a program long-term.

When Lane first came to Oxford, he mainly thought of it as the place where he worked. But after living there and raising his kids, Knox and Landry Kiffin, he began to see how great the town is for families. He saw how people care for each other, how the schools and community make it a wonderful place to raise children, and how much everyone helps one another.

Lane Kiffin doubled down on how Rebels family stood by him during his toughest time: “Then you see your parents at the end and lose your parents, one kind of expected, one unexpected, and to see how the community is around that I just I owe so much to Oxford and the people there. It’s just been just been awesome.” Lane Kiffin’s pops legendary Monte Kiffin passed away back in 2024, at the age of 84, he was very fond of the Rebels. Less than a year later, his mother, Robin Kiffin, also passed away. Despite the heartbreak and challenges, the Rebels family never left his side once. And with the Florida Gators relentlessly coming after Kiffin, Ole Miss fans firmly believe Oxford is and always will be — his home.

Josh Pate’s take on Gators’ job: Still worth in 2025?

Josh Pate talked about the big question on every SEC fan’s mind: Would Lane Kiffin leave Ole Miss for Florida now that the Gators have fired Billy Napier? He explained that Ole Miss isn’t the underdog it used to be. “If this were 1997 or 2010, it’s understandable,” Josh said, “but it’s 2025, and Ole Miss’s NIL setup might even be better than Florida’s. Ole Miss has been ahead of the curve.” This means Oxford is strong financially, which makes the decision harder for Kiffin.

The real question, Josh said, comes down to one word: legacy. He asked what matters more to Lane Kiffin—the prestige of coaching at Florida or becoming a legend in Oxford. “Fast forward 30 years,” Josh said, “you could be looking back and decide your life is in Oxford. You’re the head coach at Ole Miss. You win more years, and maybe buildings and streets get named after you.” Josh also reminded everyone that Kiffin has faced this choice before.

In 2022, Auburn wanted him, but his daughter convinced him to stay at Ole Miss. Since then, Kiffin has had great success with a 50–19 record and no losing seasons. Josh said, “The other path is Florida, where you might win a national championship. Maybe that matters more than legacy. I’m not saying either is wrong, I’m just asking what matters more.” So while Florida can offer a bigger stage, Ole Miss offers something deeper—a real home and lasting legacy.