Authorities at Louisiana State University are focusing intensely on acquiring the services of Lane Kiffin.
Top university leaders and athletic department personnel are finalizing details on a lucrative contract offer and aiming to secure a commitment from the Ole Miss head coach in the coming days, marking the most significant effort yet in their pursuit of Kiffin.
However, the coach’s true intentions remain unclear, even to those closest to him, as he weighs his options between staying at Ole Miss or accepting positions at LSU or the University of Florida.
A discussion involving Kiffin, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, and university president Glenn Boyce on Friday afternoon did not result in a definitive decision regarding his future, according to Carter. Carter stated that an announcement about Kiffin’s plans will be made next Saturday, following Ole Miss’s game against Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl on Friday.
In Baton Rouge, key figures at LSU are preparing to extend a formal offer to the coach and his representatives. While the precise terms of the contract are still being determined, sources have indicated that university officials have discussed a seven-year agreement with incentives, potentially valued at $90 million or more. Such a deal would position Kiffin as one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. The university is also prepared to make substantial investments in name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for players, exceeding $25 million, which may be a crucial factor in Kiffin’s decision.
Despite previous remarks from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressing concerns about expensive coaching contracts, the governor has given his approval for the university’s ambitious pursuit of Kiffin, led by recently appointed athletic director Verge Ausberry. While there is growing optimism in Baton Rouge that their latest efforts will secure Kiffin’s commitment, administrators and donors at Florida have also expressed similar confidence in their pursuit of the coach over the past several weeks.
Will Lane Kiffin be back at Ole Miss next season, or will he bolt for LSU or Florida? (Randy J. Williams/Getty Images)
(Randy J. Williams via Getty Images)
Officials from both LSU and Florida are aware of Kiffin’s uncertainty and are still in contact with other coaching candidates, including Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz and Tulane’s Jon Sumrall. Sumrall is also considered a frontrunner for the Auburn head coaching position, as they seek a replacement for Hugh Freeze.
Kiffin’s hesitation is creating difficulties for Ole Miss for several reasons.
The Rebels, currently ranked No. 6 and in contention for a College Football Playoff spot, are preparing for their annual rivalry game against Mississippi State in Starkville next Friday, a game that could determine whether they host a playoff game in Oxford. They also have a slim chance of reaching the SEC championship game.
Sources close to the Ole Miss program describe a team of players who are uneasy, frustrated, and even angered by the public nature of Kiffin’s decision.
“It’s not ideal,” said one source who frequently attends practices and visits the Ole Miss football facility. “The players are aware and have been reading everything.”
For weeks, university officials have been developing a plan to retain Kiffin, who is already among the top 10 highest-paid coaches with a $9 million annual salary. The plan includes a salary increase, but more importantly, it guarantees NIL compensation for players, which school officials presented to Kiffin in meetings earlier in the week.
In an interview just 10 days prior, Kiffin mentioned that the most significant factors for coaches when considering other job opportunities are above-the-cap NIL deals. Ole Miss is believed to have spent approximately $20 million on its football roster this season, a figure that likely places them in the top 10-15 nationally.
Kiffin is facing a decision that could be unprecedented in the history of college football: leaving a team that is heading to the playoffs and still has a chance to compete for a championship.
If he were to leave the following week, his departure could affect his team’s playoff seeding and potential berth. The CFP selection committee considers factors such as injuries and other events affecting a team’s season, and the loss of Kiffin, known for his offensive expertise, could impact the Rebels’ chances. A loss to Mississippi State could place them in a large group of potential 10-2 teams on the edge of the playoff field, including Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, BYU, Utah, and Oklahoma.
A victory on Saturday in Starkville would almost certainly secure a home playoff game for the Rebels, even without Kiffin as head coach.
Kiffin’s decision is a central factor in a significant coaching cycle.
His decision will have a ripple effect on several open positions and coaching candidates, with implications across the country, particularly in Auburn, Alabama, Gainesville, Florida, and even State College, Pennsylvania.
“Everyone is waiting to see what he does,” said one industry source.
Over the past week, Kiffin has given several indications that a departure from Ole Miss is possible, if not likely. In addition to declining a lucrative new deal with the university, members of his family have visited both Gainesville and Baton Rouge, trips that Ole Miss administrators learned about from sources other than Kiffin.
His daughter, Landry, attended an LSU fan event in Baton Rouge on Thursday. Landry, a sophomore at Ole Miss, publicly announced earlier this fall that she is dating LSU star Whit Weeks.
Ole Miss has a bye on Saturday, and coaches and players are scheduled to return on Sunday afternoon to continue preparations for the game against the Bulldogs (5-6).
A somewhat unprecedented situation is unfolding.
According to one source close to the situation, “I’m not sure how this will all play out by Friday.”
