Lane Kiffin staying locked in on Ole Miss’ upcoming Oklahoma game; coaching rumors amp up after Florida’s firing of Napier
OXFORD, Miss. — It’s that time of year again in the college football world: the rumor mill has fired up, and this time it’s Gainesville at the center of the storm. Florida’s firing of Billy Napier Sunday has created another ripple — and once again, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s name has found its way into the conversation.
If Kiffin’s demeanor was any indication on Sunday’s weekly zoom with media, he isn’t spending much time entertaining any of the rumors.
Last week, after Indiana nailed down head coach Curt Cignetti’s contract extension, Ole Miss Director of Athletics Keith Carter was reported to have said that he would like to lock up the Rebels’ head coach in a similar manner.
In his regular weekly Sunday zoom with media, Kiffin was asked about Carter’s comments.
“I don’t comment on these other jobs or these ongoing things in-season. That’s awesome that Keith said those things and I don’t take that for granted. I’m extremely appreciative of how everyone has been here. The chancellor (Glenn Boyce), everybody. I’m flattered that that would even be discussed halfway through the season, but I don’t deal with that.“
Lane Kiffin
Kiffin turned the conversation back to the task at hand, playing Oklahoma in Norman this coming Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot to do, obviously, with a top-15 matchup and back-to-back road games. And, you guys (media) have done this for years with me. So, I think it just speaks a lot to — that we’re mentioned (with) these other things (jobs) a lot — to where our program’s come and our players and our coaches, and really take those things as a compliment. So they’re here again, I guess, and we have to stay focused and worry about this season.”
Lane Kiffin
This season, indeed.
After Saturday’s 43-35 loss to Georgia, Ole Miss is 6–1, still ranked inside the top ten — No. 8 in this week’s AP Top 25 — and very much in contention for a college football playoff berth. What happens next will hinge on the team’s ability to maintain focus — and, perhaps, on whether the talk outside the building stays outside.
Lessons from the Past
The Rebels know how easily outside noise can become a distraction. Two years ago, that very scenario seemed to rattle the team at a crucial time.
Kiffin was asked Sunday about that 2022 season and all the speculation there was about his potential plans to either go to Auburn or stay in Oxford — and how this similar situation is being managed now.
“We don’t really talk about it,” Kiffin said.
“I know that’s your guys’ job to bring it up and all that. We don’t really talk about it. Like, if we’re around there you wouldn’t know any different or anything. We just stay in the work, stay in the moments, stay in the day. And really, that stuff has nothing to do with what we’re doing. …I think it’s a compliment to the amount of games we’ve been able to win here.”
Lane Kiffin
Next Up
No. 8 Ole Miss travels to No. 13 Oklahoma next weekend for an 11 a.m. kickoff on ABC — another ranked matchup that could define the stretch run of the Rebels’ season.
Whether Kiffin is on any other school’s short list or not, his team still controls what happens on the field. And for now, that’s where his focus appears to be — even as the coaching carousel starts spinning faster by the day.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
