Copyright Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Another week has passed and there is no resolution on whether Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin will leave for the openings at Florida or LSU. But it's about to get pretty interesting. The No. 7 Rebels (8-1) host The Citadel (4-5) on Nov. 8 (noon, SEC Network+), and their next game is at home against Florida on Nov. 15. Kiffin is still reportedly a top candidate at Florida after the Gators fired coach Billy Napier. He's also reportedly still a top candidate at LSU after the Tigers fired coach Brian Kelly. What has Lane Kiffin said about Florida, LSU openings? Kiffin has not addressed either opening publicly other than to say the reports are a credit to the players, coaches and the success of the program. Kiffin has not been acting like a coach who might leave. Near the end of Ole Miss' 30-14 win over South Carolina in Week 10, Kiffin participated in the celebration of a game-sealing interception by throwing a football into the student section. What Lane Kiffin said about Ole Miss football fans A sellout crowd of 67,491 was on hand for the South Carolina game, many well before the game kicked off at 6 p.m. It was what Kiffin had been asking for after he called out Ole Miss football fans for a lackluster showing in an uninspiring home win against Washington State on Oct. 11. "It starts in warmups with the other team," Kiffin said after the South Carolina game. "I thought when we came back out it was really intense. It was loaded, so great to see. I think teams feed off of that, especially defensively." How Lane Kiffin reacted to LSU's Brian Kelly getting fired Kiffin said he was surprised that LSU fired Kelly, but he understands the rationale for the move. "It was very surprising," Kiffin said Oct. 27. "I think it's the college world we're living in. If you think about it, players now are like NFL players in how they are paid. Now I feel like college coaches now are more like NFL coaches where the firings happen quicker." Why did Ole Miss fans think Lane Kiffin said he wasn't leaving? In a video posted on X by Brad Logan of WFCA FM Sports, Kiffin can be seen pausing behind the end zone after the win over Oklahoma on Oct. 25. He clapped and pointed to the ground before saying something to the fans in the stands. Speculation on social media was that Kiffin said he was not leaving Ole Miss. “I don’t know if I should repeat what I said, but it was not what is getting played that I said," Kiffin said Oct. 26. "Sorry to tell you, that’s not what I said. “I was kind of caught up and said something about the stadium and that we’ll be back here next year to the stadium. It was just one of those moment things. But, it wasn’t what some people think I said.” Ole Miss will play at Oklahoma in 2026. What Lane Kiffin said to Ole Miss players about Florida rumors “I just told them, ‘Hey, this happens every year here. So this isn’t new, but a lot of you guys are new,' " Kiffin said Oct. 26. "So all it is is a credit to the program and the coaches and players for doing well and having the success we have . . . More: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss coaches do hot yoga classes before road games. Here's what they're like "It goes Georgia, Alabama, then us. So, that’s pretty cool. Especially when you throw Texas and Oklahoma in there. So that’s all that’s a product of and it shouldn’t be a distraction." What is Lane Kiffin's salary and why did his contract get extended? Kiffin's win against Oklahoma triggered an automatic contract extension. Because it was Ole Miss' seventh regular season win, Kiffin's state contract with the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation will be automatically extended one year on Jan. 1, 2026. Kiffin's contract now runs through Dec. 31, 2031. The added year will be worth $9 million with $7.2 million guaranteed. Kiffin's $9 million salary is tied for No. 6 in the SEC. What Lane Kiffin said about his name coming up in Florida coaching search On Oct. 19, Kiffin was asked about the Florida opening, and Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter's recent comments about wanting to extend Kiffin's contact. "I don't comment on these other jobs or these ongoing things in-season," Kiffin said. "That's awesome that Keith said those things and I don't take that for granted. I'm extremely appreciative of how everyone has been here. The chancellor (Glenn Boyce), everybody. I'm flattered that that would even be discussed halfway through the season, but I don't deal with that." Lane Kiffin buyout As of Dec. 1, 2025, if Ole Miss fires Kiffin without cause, he would be set to receive $36.6 million. It is the No. 15 most expensive buyout out of the 105 USA TODAY could review and No. 7 in the SEC.
