Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels delivered a historic offensive performance on Saturday, demolishing FCS opponent Furman with a record-setting 76-point display – the highest scoring game since Kiffin took over the program.
Of course, we’re talking about Furman – but still…
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was much different in Gainesville, where the Florida Gators suffered a humiliating 41-17 defeat at the hands of rivals Miami, putting head coach Billy Napier squarely in the hot seat.
Napier, who was considered a strong candidate to be the first head coach fired this season, saw his situation worsen with the lopsided loss.
Despite a relatively easy matchup next week, the Gators are facing the nation’s toughest schedule, making a turnaround seem unlikely in the near future.
Frustrated Florida fans have already started calling for change – and some have their eyes set on Kiffin…
“A Lane Kiffin Offense at Florida would feed families … I NEED this ASAP. Make the move.”
“LSU needs to hurry up and hire Lane Kiffin before #Florida does.”
“Lane Kiffin is coming to save #Florida.”
“Maybe. Last year Lane seemed frustrated with the talent discrepancy between him and the top of the SEC. If he sees UF as a place that he get 5* recruits he might jump. Also law in MS keeps his contract at 4 years so he can’t get the 80-100M guaranteed like he prob could at UF.”
“Imagine Lane Kiffin coaching DJ Lagway…”
Unfortunately for those fans, Kiffin seems more settled and satisfied than ever in Oxford.
ESPN recently published an in-depth feature on Kiffin, revealing that the coach was once on the verge of accepting the Auburn job in 2022. However, his daughter, Landry, played a pivotal role in convincing him to stay at Ole Miss.
Kiffin also shared that his son, Knox, will be moving to Oxford next summer to play football at Oxford High School, and that his brother, Chris Kiffin, has joined the Rebels’ coaching staff.
With much of his family now living on the same street in Mississippi, Kiffin seems to have found a true home in Oxford.
By all accounts, Kiffin is a changed man and has matured greatly over the years.
Some viewed Ole Miss as merely a stepping-stone when Kiffin first took the job. However, he has done an outstanding job building the program up into being legitimate national title contenders.
Very few would doubt that the 2024 Rebels are the best team that Kiffin’s had during his tenure in Oxford.
With Heisman Trophy candidate Jaxson Dart under center, the sky is the limit for the loaded Rebs this season.
Kiffin may be the most polarizing coach in the country. Fans either love him or hate him. There seems to be virtually no in-between.
Considering just how ugly things have gotten under Napier in Gainesville – especially after he inexplicably insulted his own supporters – you can’t blame Florida fans for dreaming of Kiffin.
Ole Miss fans have pointed out that taking the Florida job would be considered a “step down” for Kiffin. (No offense to those great fans, but you won’t find many people outside of Mississippi who don’t consider Florida a more prestigious job.)
What are your thoughts on the idea that Florida should go after Kiffin?
Do you think there’s ANY chance of that happening? … Sure, Kiffin has flirted with many programs in the past, but can you see him actually consider leaving Ole Miss for Florida if given the opprruntiy?
As for Napier, what do you think ends up happening? … Is he indeed a dead man walking???