National analyst’s bold statement about Florida Gators is exactly why Lane Kiffin should choose Gainesville over LSU and Ole Miss

It’s easy to see why.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 25, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin celebrates with fans after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators are still trying to find their head coach for the 2026 season.

After firing head coach Billy Napier in the middle of October, the search for the next head coach began, and the top candidate has always been Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin. He’s been the focus of the search since the start, and they could have had him last year if they had moved on from Napier when most thought they should have.

Instead, they are now fighting with the LSU Tigers, who have a very aggressive offer on the table for Kiffin, and Ole Miss, who is a near mortal lock for the College Football Playoff. When all three teams bring something to the table, it makes for a difficult decision for Kiffin.

Florida Gators offer something to Lane Kiffin nobody else can

When you have three top universities all chasing the same coach, one thing can make all the difference. On3 Sports’ JD PicKell believes that Kiffin can turn the Gators into a wagon right away, and he’s right.

If you were all about winning next year, that [Florida], to me, is the most ready-made situation to win in 2026 if you can retain that roster,” said PicKell. “You keep DJ Lagway, if you want to, as your quarterback, not a bad deal. You want to bring somebody else? Lane Kiffin’s proven he’s well-equipped to do that. The talent in Jaden Baugh, Dallas Wilson. There are a lot of pieces there to where, if Lane Kiffin was the head coach next season in Gainesville, they could do some damage right away.”

PicKell is spot on. This team is loaded with talent and, with the insane amount of injuries they’ve had this season, a lot of freshmen have played serious snaps. It doesn’t necessarily bode well for getting wins this season, but it will make a difference for the future.

It isn’t just the success of what the team can be, it’s the attachment Kiffin has to the state.

“Let’s say this too, sometimes the heart just wants what it wants. And there’s a couple of ties to Lane Kiffin at a personal level, to the state of Florida,” continued PicKell. “His father coached the Tampa Buccaneers for a long time: Monte Kiffin and the Tampa two. His ex-wife, I believe she’s from the state of Florida. Father-in-law, same deal. Lane Kiffin coached at FAU, had a lot of success there. There’s a familiarity with Florida. And also sounds like an affection for Steve Spurrier as a, I don’t want to say role model, but like someone that Lane Kiffin admires in the coaching profession.”

There is a real connection to the state of Florida for Kiffin, including going to The Swamp with the mother of his children on their first date. It makes all the sense in the world for Kiffin to head to Gainesville. We’ll see if that comes to fruition for Florida, but they have the on-roster talent to thrive if you can put a better scheme on the field.

Plus, neither Ole Miss nor LSU is in the state of Florida. The Gators need to work on locking it down.

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