Lane Kiffin is a hot commodity right now. Earlier, when just the Florida head coaching job was open, Kiffin and Florida were probably a done deal. But after LSU fired Brian Kelly, Florida isn’t the only blueblood job Kiffin might land. Not to mention, the Ole Miss Rebels are continuing to punch above their weight this season, with national contention within reach. All of this dynamic gives the Ole Miss head coach massive leverage. Except, Florida AD isn’t keen on waiting.

According to a report by On3’s Pete Nakos, Gators AD Scott Stricklin has announced exploring other directions if Kiffin’s move to Gainesville doesn’t pan out. “Stricklin is preparing to go in a different direction than Kiffin if he has to, sources have told On3, just like any other athletic director in the position,” reported Nakos. But Stricklin isn’t making that decision without having some leverage himself.

On top of that, we’re getting reports that returning to Oxford next year might not be a certainty for Lane Kiffin. As per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, “Right now, it’s hard to imagine Lane Kiffin coaching at Ole Miss next year. The opportunity that looms at either LSU or Florida is too big.” That makes the LSU and Florida jobs highly lucrative. Lane Kiffin won’t just get incredible resources but also will be coaching in a high-profile environment, which could pave the way for his NFL head coaching stint.

But Florida is a delicate situation. Everyone knows they want Kiffin. This was even a possibility last year, but Billy Napier somehow turned things around. Or it looked like he did. Stricklin going public with his statement is more than a hint to other head coaches. It also puts a ticking clock over Kiffin’s head. Either make the decision quickly and commit, or lose the once-in-a-decade opportunity.

The Gators’ AD isn’t bluffing either. According to reports, several other names are also being considered for the Gators’ head coaching vacancy. Since the AD wants a name to be finalized before December.

Scott Stricklin has paired up with the search firm TurnkeyZRG, overseeing evaluations for new candidates. Currently, the names that are coming up include Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Louisville’s Jeff Brohm. Apart from them, Syracuse’s Fran Brown’s name has also come up, including Jedd Fisch and Georgia Tech’s Brent Key. All these coaches are doing incredibly well with their respective programs. But Lane Kiffin is still a more suitable candidate, owing to his SEC roots. As for Lane Kiffin, he has made his stance clear on changing camps.

Lane Kiffin is stuck between a three-front battle to land him

A north of $10 million per year would be easily expected if Lane Kiffin gets hired at Florida. On the contrary, Kiffin, upon coming to Ole Miss in 2020, earned $3.9 million and had a $16.2 million four-year contract. His contract was renewed later in 2021, and most recently, after Florida rumors began. Now the Ole Miss head coach is set to earn $9 million this year after his extension. That roughly makes his contract valued at $84 million, extended till 2031. That just signals Ole Miss’s intention to keep Kiffin for the long term. However, for Kiffin, money is the last thing on his mind.

“I have never made a decision based on money, nor will I. I’ve seen too many examples in life that money does not buy happiness, so I’m never going to make a decision based on money. Nor do I care about it. (Kiffin’s agent) Jimmy Sexton gets really mad when I say that,” said Lane Kiffin when asked about the Florida and LSU rumors. Could that mean Kiffin will finally stay at Ole Miss?

Ole Miss is in quite a favorable position right now. The team is 7-1 in the SEC, and barring a calamity, will make the CFP rounds. That makes Ole Miss a natty contender and well within reach to pay whatever it takes to keep Kiffin at Oxford. “Ole Miss is also in a financial position to match whatever another suitor will throw at Kiffin. So the Rebels have made the best possible case for keeping Kiffin,” reported ON3’s Andy Staples. Despite all that, currently, Lane Kiffin is at a 60-70% probability of landing in Gainesville.

That’s because Kiffin has nostalgic ties with his mentor and Florida legend Steve Spurrier. Not to mention his high-scoring and fast-tempo offense fits the Gators’ “swamp” excitement. That surely makes the Gators’ job a ‘not to be missed’ opportunity, and AD Scott Stricklin probably knows that.