Lane Kiffin has yanked everyone's chain in an unfathomable way this season with his coaching sweepstakes, setting himself up to be public enemy No. 1 for multiple SEC fanbases and giving the one that actually lands him trust issues.
The Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers, and Florida Gators have all gotten assurances of being the No. 1 team in the race, but the cycle seems intent on resetting several times between now and Saturday. That's the big day Kiffin will make his choice, allegedly.
FOX Sports' Joel Klatt ripped Kiffin for the way he's handled his business this offseason, also revealing that LSU is the current favorite to be his employer in 2026 and beyond.
"I've been all over the map and partly because the information has been all over the map," Klatt said. "There have been moments when I thought he's definitely going to stay at Miss. There's been moments [when] I have been told he's definitely going to Florida. Now, there [have] been moments that I've been told he's definitely going to LSU.
"That's kind of where the information stands. Pretty reliable that LSU is the front-runner. Obviously, this is coming to a head because they're announcing when the decision is going to be made.
"Your credibility is your currency as a coach. How does Lane Kiffin leave Ole Miss in the middle of a playoff run and have any credibility at his next place? I don't think that he would. We can sit here and lament the calendar and realize that like, this is not a great position for Lane to be in. I totally agree with that, but it's also still up to him.
"If you say yes to everything, how can you be committed to anything?"
Auburn did well not to engage in Lane Kiffin sweepstakes
The absolute last thing the Auburn Tigers needed to do was follow up the Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze hirings with an immediate flight-risk who ultimately has eyes on becoming the Alabama Crimson Tide's head coach.
Imagine Kiffin having a College Football Playoff-caliber season and then immediately jumping elsewhere? Kiffin made it clear Auburn was not a priority to him in 2022 when he accepted the job and immediately reneged to go back to the University of Mississippi. No need to try again.
Luckily, John Cohen didn't, and now, Jon Sumrall is seemingly set to leave the Tulane Green Wave for the Plains and become the Tigers' next head football coach.