NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
As LSU, Penn State and other powerhouse college football programs search for their next head coach, Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin continues to come up in speculation.
Former NFL player and current ESPN personality Pat McAfee is among those who don’t want Kiffin to even think about leaving Oxford, Mississippi.
McAfee, the West Virginia University alum, was speaking on ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday when the topic of Kiffin came up.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
“College GameDay” sportscaster Pat McAfee on set before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on August 30, 2025. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
“I’d like to say if Lane Kiffin is listening … You’re allowed to be happy and content, brother,” McAfee said. “You’re allowed to be somewhere and have massive success. You’re allowed to build a place from the ground up. You’re allowed to get a GED somewhere. I think there’s a feeling among a lot of coaches that, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get to this job, you’ve got to get to this job.’
Speculation mounted about Kiffin to LSU after it was reported that university officials and athletic administrators had finalized terms of a massive contract proposal for Kiffin, who has a 115-53 career coaching record in college football between Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. LSU parted ways with Brian Kelly after three straight this season earlier.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter as well as university chancellor Glenn Boyce spoke with Kiffin on Friday afternoon to discuss his future. Carter issued a statement after the meeting that ultimately said Kiffin’s future would be decided next Saturday after the annual Egg Bowl against Mississippi State. It marks the final regular season game for No. 6 Rebels.
2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 13 BUZZ: LSU GIVES HUGE OFFER TO LANE KIFFIN
How much is LSU willing to give Kiffin, who owns a 54-19 record with the Rebels since taking over in 2020? While contract negotiations remain fluid, Yahoo Sports executives reported discussing a seven-year pact loaded with incentives and worth at least $90 million.
That would make Kiffin the highest-paid college football coach in the country.
It’s also worth noting that LSU intends to pledge “significant NIL and revenue share investments in excess of $25 million,” which would give Kiffin, one of the top recruiters in the country, enormous resources to land top talent across the 50 states. NIL resources are essential for coaches to recruit the players necessary to produce winning seasons in today’s college game.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to the media during SEC Media Day at the Omni Atlanta Hotel on July 14, 2025. (Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images)
Meanwhile, Florida, which fired Billy Napier earlier this season, hopes to lure Kiffin to Gainesville to revive a program desperate to return to the top of the college football rankings.
Now, both programs — and perhaps others — are well aware that Kiffin has a good thing going with the Rebels, who are poised for a spot in the College Football Playoff this season. They will continue their due diligence on other coaching targets, but Kiffin will remain a top candidate until his decision is made.
It’s a tough situation for the current Rebels players, all of whom are fighting to reach the CFP. Given the public nature of Kiffin’s situation, McAfee understands what they’re going through.
When he was with the Mountaineers, former coach Rich Rodriguez left WVU to go to Michigan. While McAfee understands it from a player’s perspective, Rodriguez’s time in Ann Arbor did not prove fruitful.
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin watches his team play against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
“RichRod went to Michigan. He’s back at West Virginia. If he would have never left, that guy probably has the whole university named after him,” McAfee said, adding to his argument for Kiffin to stay at Ole Miss.
It’s a long week ahead in Oxford and around college football, with everyone tuning in to see where Kiffin’s future lies.
