Billy Napier’s firing from the Florida Gators sent shockwaves across college football, though it was hardly a surprise to many. The 23-21 borderline win against Mississippi State reflected some glaring on-field holes. Napier’s record finished at 22-23. It’s the worst winning percentage for a Florida coach since 1949. Plus, fans portrayed their frustration with the current playmaking techniques. With all this going on, the administration finally pulled the plug on the HC, handing him a $19.38m buyout.

But now the question remains: Who is the next man up? Lane Kiffin’s name is buzzing loudly as the top candidate for the Florida Gators’ head coaching job. And it makes sense based on what he is doing at Ole Miss. But what makes him even more special is the stamp of approval from former Florida football head coaching legend Steve Spurrier. “They’re throwing Lane’s name out there a lot, and he’d be good here. Look at what he’s done at Ole Miss,” Spurrier said. But in order to sound not too biased, he also addressed other names.

“(Eli) Drinkwitz is another one, even (Jon) Gruden. There are several others, but Lane is being mentioned more than other guys it seems like.” Spurrier’s arrival at The Swamp in 1990 brought in the “Fun ‘n’ Gun” offense. It was a flashy, wide-open passing attack that flipped the SEC’s traditional run-heavy style on its head. That helped Florida rake in six SEC titles during his 12-year stint.

He even led the Gators to their first-ever national championship in 1996, capping it off by throttling Florida State 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl. So when a man of his stature says Lane Kiffin is the man, with a bit of neutralness, obviously, then one should listen.

The HC has transformed Ole Miss into a national contender, sitting at 50-19 and knocking on the door of the College Football Playoff. The contrast couldn’t be starker from his predecessor, Matt Luke’s 15-21 record over three years. One major reason Kiffin fits so well is how he embraced Oxford’s small-town charm after initially feeling boxed in by it.

But Spurrier’s run with the Gators can actually turn in Kiffin in The Swamp. “I wanted to be Steve Spurrier,” Kiffin said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. “When I watched him and his offenses in the visor and kind of the way he’d throw jabs … I was like, ‘Steve Spurrier is the man.’ ”  Spurrier even took an unconscious jab at Napier while keeping his neutral side. They’re [Lane and Eli] already making millions. I don’t think money will be the reason that Lane or any of them leave.” But if Kiffin’s not available or declines, Eli Drinkwitz from Missouri is an excellent fallback.

Not just Lane Kiffin, other options are also in the running

That was not the only time Spurrier spoke about the Rebels HC’s contractual situation. Reminded that Kiffin ($9 million) was making more than Napier ($7.4 million), Spurrier quipped, “Well, he should have been making more than Billy. Billy came here from Louisiana. Lane is in the SEC. Billy was making about $2 million at Louisiana and then he gets a guaranteed seven-and-a-half million dollar deal here. Gee, that’s a pretty good jump, isn’t it?” 

Lane Kiffin’s current deal at Ole Miss is around $9 million, with extra incentives pushing his earnings well over $11.6 million. Florida would need to top that comfortably, likely offering at least $15 million a year. That’s why Drinkwitz is also an option. The current Missouri Tigers HC has a solid SEC resume with a 21-5 record over the last two-plus seasons and guided Missouri to a Cotton Bowl title. His offense-minded approach and confident leadership make him well-suited for Florida’s revival.

Other than Lane Kiffin being a hard catch, some other names can be a good fit at The Swamp. James Franklin and Alex Golesh stand out as solid fits for the Florida Gators’ job. Recently, fired from the psotion at Penn State, doesn’t paint the full picture for Franklin. Within two years, he had that squad back to Big Ten championship form. Sure, this season was the last for him at Happy Valley. Penn State couldn’t really accept the losses against UCLA and Northwestern. But keeping all that aside, Franklin’s familiarity with the SEC is a plus.

On the other hand, Alex Golesh brings a different kind of buzz. He’s currently the head coach at South Florida and has been turning heads with how he’s firing up that program. USF occasionally breaks into the AP Top 25 and lights up scoreboards in high-scoring games. His Florida ties and in-state recruiting know-how could be huge assets in rebuilding the Gators.