After beating the Florida Gators over the weekend, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has tried to quiet down all the rumors about him leaving for another job. Even during a press conference and later on social media, he said he’s happy at Ole Miss and doesn’t want to talk about anything but Ole Miss. He also called the rumors disrespectful to his players, who are having a great season. Despite all the chatter, Kiffin is making it clear his focus is on his team..

On November 16th, Ole Miss insider Zach Moreth hopped onto X and spilled Lane Kiffin’s final stance on his Florida job speculation: “Those of you that cover me know that we don’t discuss this during the season. I don’t know why there would’ve been a fan narrative besides just fans being fans. It’s basically a policy that we don’t talk about it and we never have.”

Kiffin has a long history of not talking about job rumors during the season. Back in 2022, when he was linked to the Auburn job, he did the same thing and eventually stayed with Ole Miss. So, it’s not a surprise that he’s taking this approach again. He’s been really successful at Ole Miss, and the team is doing so well that this kind of gossip was bound to happen. He’s even used the situation to his advantage, telling his players that the rumors are a compliment to their success and plans to cash in on his first playoff debut.

It’s understandable why other schools would be interested in Kiffin. He’s a highly sought-after coach who happens to be the portal king and top 3 offensive genius. Jobs at places like Florida and LSU are very tempting. Word on the street; Gators were ready to make one of the highest paying HC, if not the highest. Even with Kiffin’s comments, the speculation hasn’t stopped, especially since he’s having his best seasons ever at Ole Miss. Fans at his home stadium have even chanted “We want Lane!” to show they want him to stay.

Kiffin is locked into his contract at Ole Miss, which got automatically extended through 2031 after the team got its seventh win last month. But with more schools likely interested, the conversation will probably continue even with his recent comments. The college football world is crazy, and coaches moving around is just part of the game. We’ll have to wait until after the season to see what Kiffin ultimately decides to do. However, the pressure is immaculate for Gators.

The Florida Gators face pressure in the pursuit of Lane Kiffin

At this point, it has been pretty obvious the Gators’ obsession with wanting Lane Kiffin as its next head coach. This pursuit has already led to talks between Kiffin’s camp and Florida, although Kiffin himself hasn’t been directly involved yet. The Gators have no clear backup plan if Kiffin turns them down. Names like James Franklin and Eli Drinkwitz have been mentioned, but there’s no strong consensus on them. Even Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham turned down a spot in the candidate lineup.

The situation has created a high-risk, high-reward scenario for Florida. If Kiffin agrees, he would become the centerpiece of their coaching future, similar to how athletic director Scott Stricklin targeted Billy Napier four years ago. However, this approach is risky. With Ole Miss on track to their first playoff, Kiffin’s decision becomes even more complicated. The big question for Florida is whether Kiffin will leave Ole Miss mid-playoff run or if they’ll have to wait until it’s over.

If Kiffin decides not to leave or goes elsewhere, Florida faces a serious problem. Many of the other candidates have already made moves—Franklin is in talks with Virginia Tech, Dillingham is staying at Arizona State, and Jeff Brohm is negotiating an extension with Louisville. Florida hasn’t had serious talks with any of these candidates, leaving them vulnerable if their Kiffin plan falls apart.

Kiffin’s success at Ole Miss has made him one of the most sought-after coaches on the market. He’s turned a program that had been mediocre for decades into a perennial winner. However, Florida is not the only school after him; LSU and several NFL teams are also interested. This increases the competition and makes Florida’s gamble even riskier. The longer Kiffin waits to make his decision, the more likely Florida could lose him to another school or NFL team.

Ultimately, Florida’s entire coaching search hinges on Kiffin. If he agrees to take the job, the Gators could see a turnaround and a bright future. But if Kiffin chooses to stay at Ole Miss or go elsewhere. Florida could find itself scrambling with no clear backup plan. The Gators are gambling everything on Kiffin, and the risk of a crash is high if he doesn’t come through.