Lane Kiffin was just given all the power and leverage in his ongoing negotiations with the Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers, and Florida Gators by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee's view on his potential mid-season departure from Oxford, Mississippi.
As On3's Chris Low reports, the Rebels could be bumped from the College Football Playoff, or at least be at a seeding disadvantage, if Kiffin leaves the program.
“If you’re suddenly without your head coach when they do the final seeding, the coach who’s gotten you to that point, then they could definitely drop you in the seeding order and put you on the road," Low's sources told him.
No one man should have all that power. Kiffin can now go to every school in the running for his services and say, "Look at how important I am." Kiffin, by himself, defines an entire season of college football with his decision.
This leak might've just gotten Kiffin a raise. It might mean Ole Miss has to pay everything they possibly can to keep him around. And do it repeatedly.
For a man like Kiffin, who is already the center of the college football coaching carousel, this gives every move he makes more gravity. Like his "Page 225" tweet this morning, which many believe is a Baton Rouge reference.
Kiffin holds all the chips, and it appears he wants to abuse that fact. It's going to make for entertainment to most of the college football world, and crippling anxiety for the three fanbases involved. There's a November 28 "deadline" for Kiffin to decide if he's staying with the Rebs. That's the only bit of leverage Ole Miss has.
Auburn can give Lane Kiffin another job option in Week 14
Kiffin, meanwhile, can have the Tigers and Gators wait. For Kiffin's sake, he might as well wait to see if the Alabama Crimson Tide loses in the Iron Bowl and loses patience with second-year head coach Kalen Deboer.
The Auburn Tigers can open up another job opening that's not their own and offer Kiffin a chance to join the only program he said he'd ever leave the University of Mississippi for, in UAT, with a Week 14 upset for the ages that'd make AU bowl-eligible.