We are reaching the endgame of the Lane Kiffin saga. With the Egg Bowl days away, there are all kinds of speculations around his future. Is he staying at Ole Miss? Or is he deserting the program for one of LSU/Florida? Kirk Herbstreit weighed in on the issue, and Ole Miss fans won’t like what he said.

On3 released a ‘Lane Kiffin Prediction’ list via college football insider Brett McMurphy. It listed all major analysts who predicted the winner of the three-way tie race for Kiffin’s signature. Out of 20 analyst predictions, 12 voted for LSU as the favorite. Kirk Herbstreit was among those 12, who included names like Paul Finebaum, Joel Klatt, and Josh Pate. Even Desmond Howard and Ross Dellenger went with the Tigers.

There is no information available on why LSU is the hot favorite to land the current head coach. In the last few weeks, many analysts have spoken against the involvement of the Louisiana Governor in operations at LSU. That is far from ideal for Kiffin, who runs the show at Ole Miss.

The Tigers have already offered Kiffin a $90 million, incentive-heavy deal that could reach $100 million with additional roster investments. Florida Gators and Ole Miss are matching the offer. So, money isn’t really a factor here. Recruiting-wise, both Florida and LSU are powerhouses, and Lane Kiffin will have a wider pool to recruit from. When you consider the current state of these three programs, Ole Miss stands out compared to Florida and LSU.

Analysts didn’t just pick LSU in the poll. Five other college football personalities picked Ole Miss, signaling their belief that Kiffin will stay. This group includes Brett McMurphy, Chris Low, Dave Portnoy, and others. Of the final three predictors, two chose Florida, while one, Tom Fornelli, opted for the NFL route and selected the Tennessee Titans.

Which program is a better fit for Lane Kiffin?

With all three major SEC programs pursuing Lane Kiffin, one question remains: Where will he go?

LSU has emerged as the favorite, likely because of its storied history and strong football culture. However, the program is known for politically influenced decisions, which could become a headache for Kiffin. On the positive side, LSU would give him the resources to invest heavily in the transfer portal and high school recruiting. With that support, he could build a powerful roster, especially with 2026 defensive line commit Lamar Brown already on board.

While Florida may not be the best job compared to the other two, it could offer the highest ceiling. If Kiffin goes to Florida and turns the program into a powerhouse, he would make history and cement his legacy among the greats. However, he could accomplish the same thing right where he is now.

Ole Miss has emerged as one of the most dangerous offenses in the country this season. With a 54-19 record over nearly six seasons, Kiffin has rewarded the program’s faith after it gave him a chance during a challenging period in his career. He has also publicly expressed his love for living in Oxford, saying the city has brought him closer to his family. He mentioned a special connection to Oxford because his father, Monte Kiffin, passed away there, and his daughter, Landry Kiffin, currently attends Ole Miss.

With Ole Miss likely headed to the playoffs and in position to compete for a National Championship, Kiffin may decide to stay in Oxford and continue building his legacy there.