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Update (11/25/25): Lane Kiffin will leave Ole Miss for LSU, sources tell The Ball Out.
Update (11/19/25): As of now, we believe that LSU is the frontrunner to land Lane Kiffin.
Lane Kiffin led the No. 6 Rebels to a commanding 34-24 victory over Florida, with a record 68,138 fans packing Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The college football drama surrounding him has reached new heights. The playoff-bound Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC) might need to start searching for a new head coach. The Ball Out’s multiple sources confirm that the football coach extraordinaire will likely leave Ole Miss for Florida, which sends shockwaves through the SEC.
The Rebels’ path to the College Football Playoff looks promising after Kewan Lacy’s stellar 224-yard, three-touchdown showcase against the Gators. The celebration’s joy might not last long as rumors of Kiffin’s move to Florida grow stronger. The timing adds an ironic twist – beating the Florida Gators right before potentially becoming their leader.
Kiffin’s relationship with Ole Miss seems to be ending, as the unsigned contract extension speaks volumes. The Ole Miss student section’s heartfelt pleas for their coach to stay add more weight to speculation about his departure before their final regular-season battle against Mississippi State on November 28.
Sources Confirm Lane Kiffin Is Likely Leaving Ole Miss for Florida
Signs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium have pointed to this outcome for weeks now. The Ball Out’s multiple sources indicate Lane Kiffin will almost certainly become the next Florida Gators head coach. You couldn’t miss these hints if they were splashed across the stadium in orange and blue.
College football’s master of strategic silence, Kiffin hasn’t put his name on that Ole Miss contract extension yet. This calculated move keeps all his possibilities open.
Florida announcer Frank Frangie echoed what industry insiders already knew: “I think Florida is going to offer him the job, and I think Lane Kiffin is going to be the next Florida coach“. He predicted the announcement would come “between the regular season and the playoffs.”
The SEC’s trusted voice, Paul Finebaum, made his stance clear: “Everything seems to be pointing toward Florida”. Betting markets back this up, with Kiffin’s odds at -300 to lead the Gators.
The Gators have launched an aggressive pursuit of the Lane Kiffin football coach brand, with their representatives already deep in talks with Kiffin’s team. Florida’s strategy boils down to “Lane Kiffin or bust”.
His telling silence at the time of questions about staying at Ole Miss revealed more than any words could say.
Why Lane Kiffin Is Likely Choosing Florida Over Ole Miss
“I grew up picturing I’d be at one of the elite blue bloods where you can sign top-five classes every year because of your in-state talent and facilities and tradition. I wasn’t raised to think it was a program like Ole Miss, but I’ve also changed a lot over the years. I didn’t grow up thinking this was the final chapter of the story.” — Lane Kiffin, Head Football Coach, Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin has shown his cards without explicitly revealing them. Last Monday, he described what makes a premier college football job, just days before facing the Florida Gators who reportedly want him. Sources at The Ball Out suggest this wasn’t random talk—it was Kiffin’s way to justify leaving Ole Miss.
“Kids get recruited, and they see the size of stadiums, traditions, Heismans and national championships. Then your location to talent,” Kiffin explained. The Florida program matches these criteria perfectly.
The Swamp’s capacity of nearly 89,000 fans dwarfs Ole Miss’ smaller venue. Florida’s program boasts three national championships and three Heisman Trophy winners. The Gators stand as all but one of these SEC members in what might be college football’s most talent-rich state.
Kiffin’s current $9 million salary at Ole Miss ranks him as the 10th-highest paid coach in college football. Yet the Gators offer something money can’t buy—the prestige of a true “blue blood” program.
Kiffin has transformed Ole Miss into a serious contender by winning 30 of 36 games since 2023. He understands the difference between building a program and inheriting greatness. The coach who once left Tennessee because it wasn’t enough ended up seeing Florida as the next logical step in the Kiffin coaching journey.
How Kiffin’s Silence Is Affecting Ole Miss Football
The elephant in Oxford’s locker room grows bigger each day. Lane Kiffin artfully dodges questions about his future. The Kiffin, Ole Miss relationship now sits in an awkward limbo that leaves players, recruits, and the program caught in uncertainty’s crossfire.
This goes beyond a coach looking at his options. The Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss story has darkened what should be the Rebels’ shining moment. Players who trusted Kiffin’s vision now face playoff preparations while their coach seems mentally headed to Gainesville.
Such uncertainty naturally hurts team morale. Ole Miss seniors gave years to Kiffin’s program and might end their college careers in administrative turmoil. The recruiting path has turned rocky, as competing coaches are happy to hint at the Lane Kiffin-Florida connection to undecided prospects.
The psychological toll hits harder. Players should focus on Mississippi State and playoff preparation. Instead, they field endless questions about their coach’s loyalty. The Lane Kiffin coaching carousel splits their attention right when they need total focus.
History shows nothing hurts championship runs more than doubts about leadership. The Lane Kiff destination story now has this awkward chapter. His silence tells the whole story while his team tries to block out the noise.
The evidence definitely speaks for itself. All the puzzle pieces paint a clear picture – Lane Kiffin looks set for Gainesville while leading a playoff-bound Ole Miss team. His unsigned contract extension remains the smoking gun in this drama-filled saga. His carefully crafted comments about “elite blue bloods” versus programs like Ole Miss show what he really thinks.
The timing makes this potential move fascinating. Kiffin could find himself in an awkward spot – preparing Ole Miss for playoff glory with one foot already out the door. The Rebel players face a strange situation – they must trust their coach while watching him possibly arrange his exit.
The Gators seem ready to land their prime target. Florida’s bigger stadium, championship history, and unique access to recruiting hotbeds give Kiffin everything he wants. So what Ole Miss fans see as betrayal looks like a career step up from Kiffin’s viewpoint.
Kiffin’s exit would crush Oxford’s faithful, especially after building the program into a real contender. His pattern of career moves suggests this was maybe even expected. Tennessee learned this lesson about Kiffin’s ambition the hard way. Ole Miss might just become his next stepping stone.
The only question left isn’t if but when they’ll make the announcement. Will Kiffin stay to coach through the playoffs before leaving? Whatever happens, Kiffin’s coaching saga keeps entertaining and frustrating people equally. It shows once again that in college football, loyalty often takes a back seat to a better chance.
