As we seemingly get closer and closer to Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin making a decision on his future, it feels like most people believe that he is going to leave the Rebels, more than likely. It isn’t often that a coach has such an interesting dilemma when considering their future – having three good options firmly on the table. 

Do LSU and Florida outweigh the growth and comfort that Kiffin has in Oxford? That is the (many!) million-dollar question that will continue to be asked. In one corner, you have an Ole Miss program that offered Kiffin the chance to build something truly unique. As part of that journey, the Rebels have continued to increase the support for Kiffin, especially on the NIL and Transfer Portal acquisition side. 

In the other corner, you have two of the prouder SEC programs also pushing hard. Both LSU and Florida have great histories, and each has had dominant seasons since the turn of the century. It has been proven that if the right infrastructure is in place, they can each compete for National Championships.

Along with my A to Z Sports counterpart Joe DeLeone, we debated whether Kiffin leaving Ole Miss would be the best decision for him. While there was some middle ground and agreement, there are still several layers to this conversation. There is a lot to consider, which makes sense why Kiffin seems to be a bit split on the decision. 

Should Lane Kiffin stay at Ole Miss?

In a vacuum, LSU is a considerably better job than Ole Miss. The Tigers have a much higher ceiling as a program, and the brand can recruit itself when they don’t have incompetence leading them. It makes a unique personality to thrive in Baton Rouge, but if you have it, you will be beloved by the fanbase. There is some easy appeal with LSU, and honestly, if Kiffin does opt to leave, that should be the destination he chooses. 

When you compare Ole Miss to Florida right now, however, I’m less convinced that there is this massive gap as programs right now. Does Florida have more money to throw around than the Rebels? Yes, but the gap isn’t nearly as much as some believe. The Gators have been a shell of themselves in recent years, and there has been a lack of support from the top too often. Florida has become a job with some unrealistic expectations. 

It’s a cautionary tale, but the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. If Kiffin chooses LSU, I’d fully understand that decision. It would make a lot of sense. If he chooses Florida, however, I’d question some of the decision making. I reject the premise that it is a much better job when you consider all sides. 

DeLeone does not see it the same. For him, there is a clear separation between the two jobs and Ole Miss. I also don’t agree that Ole Miss has hit his ceiling with Kiffin, but there is nothing either of us can say to necessarily prove that fact. 

“At a certain point, it’s time to admit you’ve travelled the furthest you can go,” DeLeone explained. “That’s the case for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. After accomplishing four ten-win seasons at Ole Miss, it appears this is the furthest that Kiffin can take them. Even in a year where they’re positioned to play in the College Football Playoff, they’re likely not a team that will reach the national title game at the end.

“Kiffin is undoubtedly a tremendous coach. He’s elevated a program that has historically never fought among the SEC elite. Over the last three seasons, the Rebels were firmly in that mix, but they’ve fallen short of reaching the tier that includes programs like Alabama, LSU, and Georgia. Six seasons is enough evidence to show he can only take a program that isn’t as much of a recruiting destination so far.

“While Kiffin has dominated at building rosters through the transfer portal, the sport is still dominated by the top dogs who consistently build the foundations of their rosters through elite high school recruiting classes. Kiffin’s best recruiting class, per On3, was in 2021, when they finished 17th nationally. That’s commendable for Ole Miss, but not enough to challenge the top programs in college football for a national championship.

“For those who want to assert that Ole Miss’s struggles to recruit have nothing to do with the school and everything to do with Kiffin, then how has Kiffin been so successful at recruiting the top portal prospects? In each of the last three years, the Rebels have finished in the top five in On3’s transfer portal rankings.

“Florida and LSU are both better situations for Kiffin to prove he can become a top coach in the support. Both of those programs have out-recruited Kiffin despite struggling in recent years. It’s time to make the jump.”

Whether Ole Miss, LSU, or Florida ends up being the decision from Kiffin, we should hopefully have some clarity soon. This hiring process has become a bit of a circus, which I’m sure Kiffin doesn’t mind. His next step could have a major ripple effect on the future of the SEC, one way or another.

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Joe DeLeone