Lane Kiffin’s success is echoing loudly this season after taking Ole Miss on a 9-1 run and putting them in playoff contention. From LSU and Auburn to the Florida Gators, everyone wants him in the hot seat. Entering Week 12, Ole Miss’s matchup against the Gators continues to garner more attention than ever, as fans have dubbed it the “Lane Kiffin Bowl.” Adding to the hype, analysts like Paul Finebaum predicted Florida to be his next stop. Out of the blue, Kiffin’s rivalry jab pulled the brakes on all the rumors.

Well, Kiffin’s ties to Florida are old. As he coached at Florida Atlantic from 2017 to 2019 and has been a longtime admirer of Steve Spurrier, that’s precisely why he wears a visor on the sidelines. But now that he’s the top contender to take up the Gators’ job after Billy Napier’s firing, social media heats up.

Likewise, Kiffin’s awareness of the online feud forced him to comment, “I don’t read all the stuff. 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 Ole Miss fans and Florida fans, and they should just put a steel cage somewhere and let them fight it out.'”

Even though Lane Kiffin made a joke about the entire situation, it’s pretty clear that he’s not looking for a change. Yet the odds tell a different story. As Kalshi gives Kiffin a 56% chance to be the next Gators coach, it also gives the second-best odds of 20% to Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz. Now, that’s a humdinger.

Still, the situation looks pretty much in Ole Miss’s favor, as after their win over Oklahoma in Week 9, Kiffin’s contract triggered a contract extension through December 31, 2031, giving him a year worth $9 million with $7.2 million guaranteed.

With that buyout, he is set at $36.6 million, ranking him at no. 15 nationally. So, bringing in a championship-level coach whose team is at No. 6 in the CFP rankings would cause a dent in the Gators’ budget. Additionally, they already owe nearly $21.2 million to Billy Napier. Let’s not forget Kiffin already started a life at Oxford with his wife and two of his children. Moving them all to a new place might involve a few hurdles.

Never say never, though. There’s a high chance the Florida Gators will be on their best behavior when Lane Kiffin’s team travels to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Just in case their silence impresses him. Despite the buzz, Kiffin shut out all the noise and clarified that the fan base cheers for their team regardless of the outcome. “I don’t think (fans will cheer),” Kiffin said. “I think that people run pretty true to their schools when it comes to cheering in the game.” 

For now, Kiffin’s primary focus remains on winning against Florida and Mississippi State, as even one loss can put him out of the playoffs like last season. The Florida Gators handed Ole Miss a 24-17 loss, after which they not only missed the playoffs but also had to settle for a much smaller bowl game, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

With CFB, even NFL teams are now looking for Kiffin. Is it now time for the higher leagues?

Jaxson Dart ties draws Lane Kiffin NFL buzz

After the New York Giants’ season takes another frustrating turn with a 2-7 record, the third-year head coach Brian Daboll’s job appears to be in serious doubt. There are rumors that Lane Kiffin might take on the job, making him a perfect, ready-made replacement.

Amid the speculation, Jaxson Dart’s father, Brandon Dart, revealed he got in contact with Kiffin about the possible chatter on the Bleav in Ole Miss podcast. “I think [New York radio host] Boomer Esiason had said something in the media today that maybe they should throw out a potential coaching offer to Kiffin, and he just sent it over with a smirk and just said, ‘It’s too cold in New York for me.’ It’s just kind of funny.”

Well, looking at Dart’s potential, totalling 17 TDs across seven starts while battling through key teammates’ injuries, this reunion would have turned so many heads. Even Brandon Dart talked about their relationship with Kiffin and how deep and solid it is. “But we have our weekly interactions with him and his family, and Jaxson holds high regard. I think Kiffin is one of his most trusted allies, and I think he uses him for advice in a lot of different ways,” he said.

But for now, Ole Miss is the only place he wants to be. The loyalty blood remains rooted in Mississippi, and he wants a national championship.