The talk of the town after Lane Kiffin was visibly upset about fans leaving Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for Old Grove during a presser following Ole Miss’ narrow victory over Tulsa is the Rebels head coach leaving for a better-funded program and a more passionate Auburn football fanbase to be Bryan Harsin’s replacement as Tigers head coach.
Former AU baseball star-turned-Cleveland Guardians No. 36 overall pick Tanner Burns has made it clear that he wants to have Kiffin on the Plains, but Kiffin himself seemingly rebuffed the role by retweeting Blake Toppmeyer’s piece titled ‘Forget Auburn or Nebraska. Lane Kiffin and Mark Stoops can make playoff already’ (subscription required).
With that said, things change at the speed of light in college football — as Auburn football fans know well following November and December 2021. By season’s end, Ole Miss could be in a far worse spot. Kiffin, as we all know, is forever a flight risk to whoever is employing him in that moment.
Toppmeyer’s honors the sport’s unpredictability in his latest piece, saying that it’d be a ‘peak college football move’ to see Kiffin eventually take the Auburn football head coaching job despite what he’s shared on social media:
"“It would be peak college football, though, for Kiffin to tweet this column in September suggesting he’ll stay put … and then accept the Auburn job in December after Bryan Harsin is fired.”"
Lane Kiffin is the best Auburn football coaching candidate with SEC experience
When it comes to Lane Kiffin potentially taking the reins on the Plains, he comes with the best resume of any coach with SEC experience. Not only has he elevated Ole Miss to be a top SEC West team year in and year out no matter who is under center, but he was also part of the historic 2015 Alabama staff that defeated Deshaun Watson’s Clemson Tigers and only lost to, coincidentally, Ole Miss.
Kiffin also doesn’t come with the sort of scandals that Hugh Freeze got himself wrapped into during his own time in Oxford. When it comes to candidates with SEC experience, Kiffin is the best option.
Without the SEC qualifications, it’s tough not to want to see Deion Sanders make the Power Five leap with Auburn.