OXFORD, Miss. — The uncertainty surrounding Lane Kiffin’s role as the Ole Miss football head coach remains after a lengthy discussion with university representatives on Saturday. The possibility of him accepting the head coaching position at LSU next season seems increasingly probable. A team meeting for Ole Miss players has been scheduled for 9 a.m. CT on Sunday.
With a substantial offer exceeding $90 million from LSU, Kiffin and Ole Miss decision-makers were expected to discuss his future during the meeting. The core of the discussion centered around his desire to continue leading the No. 7 Rebels in the College Football Playoff, even though he had not agreed to a contract extension with the school as of Friday.
The discussion between Kiffin, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, and chancellor Glenn Boyce lasted for a duration exceeding three hours, assuming it commenced at the anticipated time of 3 p.m. CT. Vehicles, presumably belonging to Carter and Kiffin, were observed departing from the meeting location, the Ole Miss chancellor’s residence, around 6:45 p.m. on Saturday.
The university has not yet issued a statement, and attempts to contact officials have gone unanswered.
Sources indicate to Yahoo Sports that LSU representatives are under the impression that they have secured Kiffin’s commitment to take on the role of their next head coach. However, his desire to remain with Ole Miss through the postseason is reportedly causing a delay in finalizing the transition.
Reportedly, key personnel at LSU and Kiffin’s representatives held a conversation following the Tigers’ game in Oklahoma to further cement the agreement and arrange travel logistics. The university is planning to dispatch two aircraft to Oxford on Sunday to transport Kiffin, his family, and associates, according to individuals familiar with the situation, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The university’s pursuit of Kiffin took a significant step forward eight days prior, when Yahoo Sports revealed that officials were preparing to present a seven-year contract valued at over $90 million, along with guaranteed roster compensation exceeding $25 million. This compensation package would potentially position Kiffin as one of the highest-paid coaches in the nation.
LSU leadership expressed continued confidence on Saturday, a sentiment they have held for the past week, that the Ole Miss coach would move to Baton Rouge. This move would represent an intra-conference acquisition from one of their primary SEC rivals.
“If he chooses not to come, we have been misled,” stated a source with insights into the negotiations between Kiffin and LSU.
Nevertheless, some doubt remains, as Kiffin has publicly expressed uncertainty, despite his alleged commitments to LSU officials. He has also not signed a substantial contract extension with Ole Miss.
Numerous indicators suggest Kiffin’s departure.
Sources have informed Yahoo Sports that Carter has already commenced discussions with potential candidates this week, notably including Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and USF’s Alex Golesh. However, Florida shifted its focus from Kiffin to Sumrall, as Yahoo Sports reported on Tuesday. It is believed that the Gators and Sumrall have reached an agreement in principle. A final decision from Sumrall is anticipated by Sunday.
Golesh, despite advanced discussions with Arkansas, remains uncommitted. He is attracting interest from Ole Miss and Auburn. At Auburn, interim head coach DJ Durkin remains a candidate for the permanent position, but a decision on his potential appointment will not be made until after the Tigers’ game against Alabama on Saturday night, with the outcome potentially influencing the decision.
The expedited coaching carousel, combined with Kiffin’s delayed announcement, places the Rebels in a challenging situation. Many coaches have already re-signed with their respective schools or are engaged in negotiations with other institutions. Auburn faces a similar predicament following Sumrall’s shift in interest towards Gainesville.
Should Golesh accept a position elsewhere, either at Auburn or Ole Miss, Arkansas is expected to refocus its attention on candidates it previously interviewed, such as Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield and Alabama DC Kane Wommack.
In the meantime, in Oxford, on an evening characterized by darkness, cold, and rain, university officials convened with their coach at the Carrier House, the chancellor’s residence situated near one of the main entrances to the campus, set back from fraternity row.
The meeting garnered significant attention within the small college town.
At one point, a dark SUV slowed to a crawl in front of the residence, and a woman leaned out of the passenger window to take a photograph of the vehicles parked outside. The vehicles in question, a silver pickup truck and a black Escalade, departed from the residence approximately an hour later.
The primary focus of the meeting was expected to be Kiffin’s desire to continue coaching Ole Miss in the playoff, despite a potential commitment to LSU officials to become their head coach. The Rebels also retain a chance to compete in the SEC championship game in Atlanta the following weekend if Alabama is defeated by Auburn.
University administrators were not anticipated to allow Kiffin to continue coaching if he intends to depart for a rival program. This issue has generated considerable debate, with arguments both for and against the university allowing Kiffin to remain as coach.
Prominent figures from ESPN, including Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban, have advocated for the university to permit him to coach the team in the postseason.
“If you are in a leadership position at Ole Miss and Lane decides to accept a position elsewhere, it’s important to set aside personal emotions,” Herbstreit stated. “The focus should shift to 2025 and supporting this team with their coach, providing them with the opportunity to conclude this season successfully.”
Herbstreit also suggested that Ole Miss must “accept” the likelihood of Kiffin’s departure for Baton Rouge. Saban expressed that it would be “unreasonable” to prevent Kiffin from coaching, at least through the SEC championship game.
