With a decision expected sometime this weekend, the drama surrounding Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin should subside shortly, at least to a degree. Both LSU and Florida have been pursuing Kiffin heavily for their vacant head coach opening, and the outspoken Kiffin has fueled the fire to make it one of the largest College Football stories we have seen in quite some time. The last couple of weeks have been nothing but speculation, guesses, and hecticness. 

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter released a statement about there being an announcement on Kiffin’s future after the Rebels’ Egg Bowl matchup against Mississippi State. As of today, most expect Kiffin either to leave for LSU or stick with Ole Miss. For whatever reason, the Gators have seemingly been fading in the race. 

Until Kiffin makes a decision, however, Florida is still in the running for his services. When you talk about the Gators, most people list them as one of the very best jobs in all of college football, but is it as desirable as some people act like? Is this a job that Kiffin should prioritize among the others? 

Fellow A to Z Sports analyst Joe DeLeone joined me to debate the Florida job opening and whether it would be a good fit. While there was some middle ground, there were several layers to consider. It was a healthy bit of discourse that really put the Gators program into perspective right now. 

Would Florida be the right fit for Lane Kiffin? 

When you compare Ole Miss, LSU, and Florida together, DeLeone was very high on the opportunity with the Gators. If not for the Tigers’ pursuit, he believes it would be an easy conversation for Kiffin. 

“Of Lane Kiffin’s various options for his future coaching destination, Florida would rank second between heading to LSU and leaving Ole Miss,” DeLeone explained. 

“Florida is undoubtedly one of the best jobs in college football. Historically, they’ve produced a number of the best teams in the history of the sport. They’ve been represented by some of the most iconic players who defined multiple decades of college football. They’ve also gone on to produce a plethora of memorable moments that have reshaped college football. 

“On top of this, Florida is located in one of the best states in the country for finding top recruits. The state of Florida produces countless NFL stars each year, even at smaller programs outside the state. Additionally, Florida has a highly passionate fan base that will financially support the program and an iconic stadium that is one of the most challenging road environments in the country.

“However, there is one primary reason this job is less appealing than LSU. Florida may be loaded with recruits, but they’re forced to compete with Miami and Florida State to keep top recruits in-state. Not to mention the many programs in the surrounding states reaching in to steal away prospects. LSU has the advantage of being the top program in its state with many premier athletes. 

“In any given cycle, Florida is the best job out there. Kiffin would also be a perfect fit, considering he’s stated he wants to model himself after Gators legend Steve Spurrier. But with LSU making an aggressive push, it’s hard to say no to the advantages that they present.”

Now here’s the middle ground: I agree that Florida is a good coaching job. I don’t believe, however, that it’s the quality of job that it used to be, or that people still think it is. You don’t just have to compete against Miami and Florida State for recruits. You also have to compete with all the top programs in the SEC, as well as Northern powers like Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. 

Now, let’s have a real conversation about the Florida Gators.

There has also been less support in recent years from the Florida alumni base, and a lack of patience up top for head coaches. The Gators just aren’t the cool team they once were and have struggled for a substantial amount of time recently. The appeal to the next waves of recruits is a bigger challenge than some believe. Florida can be a great program again, but there needs to be increased alignment up top like there once was. 

Here’s a potential hot take, but I think staying at Ole Miss is a better option for Kiffin. If he left for LSU, I wouldn’t say a word. That is a very good job. The debate between Florida and Ole Miss is a very interesting conversation, which is probably why they have been fading recently.

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Joe DeLeone