Why Ole Miss football’s Lane Kiffin isn’t addressing Florida job rumors
- Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin declined to comment on speculation linking him to the vacant Florida head coaching job.
- Kiffin stated he is used to his name being mentioned in coaching searches and considers it a distraction.
- Kiffin said he is focused on the Rebels’ upcoming game against No. 11 Oklahoma.
This story has been updated with new information
OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin has been a hot option perennially in college football coaching searches the past five years, but he’s not contributing to the noise in 2025.
Florida fired coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19, which was the day after No. 8 Ole Miss lost at No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC). It triggered national conjecture about the Gators (3-4, 2-2) targeting Kiffin to be their next head coach.
In a conference call with reporters on Oct. 19, Kiffin was asked about that, and Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter’s recent comments about wanting to extend Kiffin’s contact.
“I don’t comment on these other jobs or these ongoing things in-season,” Kiffin said. “That’s awesome that Keith said those things and I don’t take that for granted. I’m extremely appreciative of how everyone has been here. The chancellor (Glenn Boyce), everybody. I’m flattered that that would even be discussed halfway through the season, but I don’t deal with that.”
Kiffin said he is used to his name being tossed around, like when he almost went to coach at Auburn in 2022. He takes it as a compliment, but said it is a distraction, and that it doesn’t happen in a team facility as much as outsiders might think.
“We stay in the work, stay in the moment, stay in the day,” he said. “Really that stuff has nothing to do with what we’re doing.”
The Rebels (6-1, 3-1) travel to face No. 11 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1) on Oct. 25 (11 a.m. CT, ABC).
“Obviously we’ve got a lot to do with another top-15 matchup,” Kiffin said. “Back-to-back road games. I think it speaks, talking about some of these things, of where our program has come. Really take those things as a compliment. They are here again so we’ve got to stay focused and worry about this season.”
Lane Kiffin contract
Ole Miss will pay Kiffin $9 million for the 2025 season, according to the USA TODAY’S 2025 database. That is his base pay, not including potential bonuses.
He is tied for No. 6 in the SEC is salary.
Lane Kiffin buyout
As of Dec. 1, 2025, if Ole Miss fires Kiffin without cause, he would be set to receive $36.6 million.
It is the No. 15 most expensive buyout out of the 105 USA TODAY could review and No. 7 in the Southeastern Conference.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens
