According to The Ringer's Todd McShay, Lane Kiffin has made up his mind on which school he'll choose next year, between a jump to the LSU Tigers or Florida Gators, the latter of which looks increasingly unlikely, and staying as the head football coach of the Ole Miss Rebels.
McShay offered no insight beyond that. And of course, if Kiffin doesn't choose, what McShay heard wasn't wrong, but things just changed. What a great post that was not intended to be engagement bait at all.
Kiffin has seemingly burned the bridge with Florida because of his "erratic" behavior. Then again, UF AD Scott Stricklin is being raked over the coals for his role in negotiations, so perhaps it wasn't Kiffin who had the lighter fluid in his hands.
As for Ole Miss, it's clear that the relationship has been affected by this coaching sweepstakes, even if he does return. Elected Mississippi officials have publicly called out Kiffin for a lack of loyalty.
At the very least, even if he stays in Oxford, we know Kiffin was so enamored with LSU that he started lining up a coaching staff for next season.
"We’re told that Kiffin is lining up his coaching staff at LSU. It’s the kind of tidbit that quickly can spread on the coaching-industry grapevine, as folks agree to join someone’s staff — and as they decline the opportunity to do so," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said.
"It’s no surprise. If Kiffin is seriously thinking about going, he’ll need to start getting people in place. And it gives him a chance to get a clean slate, leaving behind the folks from the Ole Miss staff that he either doesn’t want, or the ones who want to remain."
Florio reiterated that Kiffin hadn't yet made his mind up and that nothing was official. That is the more likely scenario than Kiffin having made his mind up, that's for sure.
Auburn can make Lane Kiffin's choice tougher by beating Alabama in the Iron Bowl
Kiffin's mind can't be made up until he knows the Alabama Crimson Tide's head coaching job isn't available. A loss to the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night might open that opportunity up.
As always, Auburn can be the chaotic wildcard that sends College Football into a tailspin by forcing a backlash on Kalen DeBoer so severe that he may have no choice but to bolt Tuscaloosa for somewhere more desirable and amenable to his family.
If that happens, Kiffin will have no choice but to monitor the Crimson Tide's coaching position. Alabama is his dream job, not Ole Miss, not LSU, and certainly not Florida.