The Ole Miss Rebels' greatest threat to steal Lane Kiffin may come from the NFL, not the SEC. The Magnolia Tribune's Russ Latino fears the Miami Dolphins or New York Giants poaching Kiffin more than the LSU Tigers or Florida Gators. By extension, that means other SEC job openings like the Arkansas Razorbacks and Auburn Tigers, too, the latter of which Kiffin has been messing with via "Freeze warning" Twitter memes.
Latino believes Ole Miss is where Kiffin could have statues built, but had no qualms about the 50-year-old finding the NFL's pull too enticing to ignore.
"I don’t think either Florida or LSU are a better situation for Lane Kiffin. Yes, I know they’re bigger programs historically, but both are dysfunctional and both feel like USC-style traps for a coach all too aware of what those look like. Hell, LSU doesn’t even have a university president or AD, and has a governor meddling in the day-to-day affairs of the team," Latino wrote.
"Ole Miss changed Kiffin’s life. He’s said so. His family says so. The university has given Kiffin everything he’s asked for, the leash is much longer, and he’s proven he can win in Oxford. If he stays, there will be statues. It would be a lot to walk away from to hop into frying pans that have chewed up and spit out some pretty acclaimed coaches.
"All that said, I wouldn’t fault the man at all if the enticement of the NFL, whether it be the Dolphins or the Giants, was just too much to ignore. Having watched the Rebels linger in mid-tier limbo for the past couple of decades, I’m honestly just appreciative for the success we’re experiencing now under Kiffin."
The Giants are an intriguing fit because of Jaxson Dart's presence under center. New York is fully investing in him and are selling their coaching job, opened up by Brian Daboll's dismissal on Monday, on Dart's future. Kiffin loves Dart, and the two won 27 regular season games in three years together, plus two bowl games. If there's an NFL job that'd appeal to him, it's the Giants, not the Dolphins.
As for the college ranks, LSU is making itself less appealing through Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's public call-outs and meddling. The Tigers have a historical edge over every other suitor, but recent history in Baton Rouge has been dysfunctional.
Florida, meanwhile, believes they're a shoo-in for Kiffin, but may have to settle for one of their backup options. The Gators look like they'll have to rebuild their entire offense, with DJ Lagway one of several players who look destined to hit the transfer portal, so it's a blank slate that could appeal to Kiffin to bring his guys to Gainesville. With that said, the Sunshine State is a battleground that the Miami Hurricanes, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Georgia Bulldogs, among other schools across the country, have dug their heels in. It won't be easy to make UF a winner again after how far they've fallen.
What happens next is anyone's guess. But the NFL or staying put may be Kiffin's preferred options, and several SEC schools will need to act quick if that's the case.