Of all the names popping out of the head coach search carousel, Lane Kiffin’s face stands out the most. After spending six years at Oxford, Kiffin has led the Ole Miss Rebels to consecutive 10-win seasons, topped by two bowl appearances. Hoping for a similar turnabout, the Florida Gators are fixated on Oxford’s backyard with a hawk’s eye. Much to their delight,  Coach Kiffin seems much closer to reaching the Swamp with each passing day.

There’s nothing online betting markets wouldn’t want to speculate on. Ever since reports poured in regarding Florida’s interest, sportsbooks kicked into a new gear, churning out constant numbers favoring Kiffin’s Florida chances. From +200 on November 4 to -150 two days later, he was trending for the head coach seat at Gainesville. If there’s one thing that stands out as an obvious development, it’s that no matter what Kiffin has stated regarding the speculation, he is still trending for the Florida gig.

Yesterday, he broke his silence regarding the rumors. All he had to say was, “I don’t read all the stuff.” Putting out his locker room conversations regarding a new rivalry brewing between Ole Miss and Florida fans. “Somebody was just saying that today, one of our student assistants explained to me, the fans are going back and forth. And they said, ‘I think there’s a new rivalry between Ole Miss fans and Florida fans, and they should just put a steel cage somewhere and let them fight it out.” Well, technically, he didn’t refute those rumors either, did he?

The next day after making those comments, the online betting market had a new update. Instead of fans believing that Kiffin would stay back at Mississippi, word on the street is that Kiffin might be headed to Florida. The recent odds read -300.

Speculations are high, but Kiffin’s response remains vague. “I don’t think it’s that big a deal.” In a conversation on The Opening Kickoff podcast, Paul Finebaum weighed on the odds. He is of the opinion that, if Coach Kiffin were to leave, which he believes so, “I tend to believe he’s going to leave,” Florida would be his first stop. “I think Florida is a better job long-term…. I think it’s unique and Kiffin has always been attracted to it for whatever reason.”

Strengthening the Florida argument, even Kalshi has laid out a 56% chance for Kiffin to make that jump.

However, Kiffin’s name has also appeared on LSU’s list. After firing Brian Kelly, the Tigers are on the lookout for another head coach, with his daughter, Landry, hinting at her dad. Is dating LSU LB Whit Weeks a possible reason why she might want her dad to switch?

Is Lane Kiffin really leaving Ole Miss?

Lane Kiffin hasn’t exactly remained mum on his name surfacing in the head coach hunt, but neither has he given a firm answer about staying with the Rebels. Nebraska and Indiana locked in their head coaches by extending their contracts. Is Ole Miss headed that way as well? Recently, a fake post circulated online, claiming the Rebels have extended his contract till 2035. However, soon after it went viral, it was debunked.

Kiffin has, however, received a one-year contract extension owing to his win against Oklahoma. As per his contract, Kiffin’s tenure was extended by one year, following Ole Miss’s seventh regular-season win.

However, with the coaching rumors still getting traction, he was asked about what makes for a lucrative coaching job. He had a succinct response to that. “People will say it’s narrowed, and some stuff has narrowed because you can’t stockpile [talent] at those blue bloods, or however you want to refer to it,” Kiffin said to the Press on Monday.

“But there are still things where you’re gonna struggle to beat those guys because kids get recruited, and they see the size of stadiums, traditions, Heismans, and national championships. Then your location to talent. I think all of those are in there.”

Given that Florida has the resources, the money, and a hot-talent bed at Gainesville, Will Kiffin make that move? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.