STARKVILLE, Miss. — Lane Kiffin mentioned he’ll resolve Saturday whether or not he’ll return as Ole Miss’ coach in 2026 or take one other job, presumably at LSU, which is making an attempt to poach him from its SEC rival with a profitable contract supply that can make him one of many highest-paid coaches in school soccer.
Kiffin, whereas talking to reporters after the No. 7 Rebels’ 38-19 victory at Mississippi State in Friday’s Egg Bowl at Davis Wade Stadium, would solely say that he’ll need to decide by some means, after Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter and chancellor Glenn Boyce mentioned they wanted a solution by Saturday.
“I really feel like I’ve obtained to,” Kiffin mentioned.
When Kiffin was requested if he had made up his thoughts about the place he’ll be teaching subsequent season, he mentioned, “Yeah, I have not. Perhaps that surprises you. However, you understand, I’ve obtained to do some praying and determine this factor out.”
Kiffin mentioned he deliberate to attend his son’s highschool playoff sport in Tupelo, Mississippi, on Friday evening. Knox Kiffin is Oxford Excessive’s beginning quarterback.
“Tonight, I will go be a dad and watch a extra necessary sport to me,” Kiffin mentioned.
Kiffin wasn’t certain what time he would decide Saturday.
“There’s loads [that goes] into it,” Kiffin mentioned. “It is a onerous choice. You guys have them on a regular basis. You have gotta make choices about jobs you’re taking and the place you progress, and we receives a commission loads so I perceive we’re beneath lots of highlight and scrutiny.”
Kiffin mentioned he regretted not having the ability to communicate to his father, Monte Kiffin, whereas making an attempt to make some of the necessary choices of his profession. The longtime NFL defensive coordinator died in July 2024. He was 84.
Kiffin, 50, has sought the recommendation of former Alabama coach Nick Saban and Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll, his former boss at USC, the previous few weeks.
ESPN reported earlier Friday that Florida, which was additionally courting Kiffin, is now targeted on different candidates in its search as a result of the Gators imagine he is extra eager about different alternatives.
Carter and Boyce met with Kiffin every week in the past in Oxford, Mississippi, and the edges got here to an understanding that Kiffin would make up his thoughts the day after the Egg Bowl.
If the Egg Bowl was Kiffin’s final sport as Ole Miss’ coach, it was a becoming finish to some of the profitable tenures at school historical past.
As hypothesis about Kiffin’s future continued to swirl over the previous two weeks, the Rebels rolled previous their rivals for his or her fifth win prior to now six conferences within the heated collection. The Rebels had 545 yards of offense, as quarterback Trinidad Chambliss handed for 359 yards with 4 touchdowns.
The Rebels (11-1, 7-1 SEC) all however secured a spot within the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff. They’re going to have to attend one other day to search out out whether or not they’ll play in subsequent week’s SEC championship sport in Atlanta.
No. 3 Texas A&M must fall at No. 16 Texas on Friday evening (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and No. 10 Alabama must lose at Auburn in Saturday’s Iron Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET/ABC) for the Rebels to clinch a spot within the SEC championship sport.
And, after all, Ole Miss followers can be ready Saturday to search out out which coaches can be on the sideline for the CFP, which could start with a first-round sport at house on Dec. 19 or 20.
If Kiffin decides to go away for LSU, former New York Giants coach Joe Decide would doubtless function the Rebels’ interim coach within the CFP, sources instructed ESPN.