Latest news connecting LSU Tigers to Lane Kiffin is brutal for the Florida Gators, and it would force an unprecedented move

Things took a turn for the worst in Gainesville with their pursuit of Lane Kiffin.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Nov 15, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin watches pregame warmups against the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The race to land Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin got a bit spicier on Friday night. Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that the LSU Tigers are set to offer Kiffin a massive seven-year, incentive-laden deal worth at least $90 million, along with promising “NIL-related roster investments” of at least $25 million. It was also blessed by Governor Jeff Landry, who has been outspoken about the head coaching job in Baton Rouge.

This would be a massive deal, and would rank second among all head coaches in college football behind just Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart. It’s an investment of massive proportions, as LSU is working hard to replace Brian Kelly, who became the first head coach to not win a national championship since Gerry DiNardo.

Florida Gators now know what they have to match

Things got a little bit messier when it comes to the pursuit of Kiffin for the Gators. Kiffin has been the No. 1 choice for the Gators from the start, and it’s been widely reported how much they want another visor-wearing offensive guru in Gainesville.

This would be a massive paradigm shift for how the Gators have ran their athletic department. They made a massive investment in head coach Billy Napier. Not only did they give him a sizable seven-year, $49 million contract, the athletic department invested massive resources into the program and facilities. Whoever ends up taking over the Gators’ program is going to be walking into a fantastic situation with a loaded roster and some of the best facilities in the country.

Where things might get tricky for the Gators is how much financial investment the Tigers are promising Kiffin. They haven’t gone over $7 million per year nor $50 million in total value on a coaching contract, which the Gators may have to come close to doubling to get Kiffin in the building. It would be a massive shift in how the Gators have done business. However, athletic director Scott Stricklin knows that he has to get this hire right, as it’s not often an athletic director gets to make a third head coaching hire, especially without any sustained success within the program.

While this is a big offer from LSU, it doesn’t mean that the Gators are out of it. In fact, you could make the argument that it’s a blessing in disguise for Florida. They know what the other side is offering and can do everything in their power to either match it, or make a better offer.

Will that be enough to get Kiffin to Gainesville? Only he can answer that question, and we will have one on Saturday, November 29th.

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