As Ole Miss prepares to face Florida in a crucial Week 12 matchup, the Gators’ top target for their $81 million opening is the very man trying to beat them: Lane Kiffin. And while the irony speaks for itself, Florida announcer Frank Frangie has shared a hint on when that decision drops.

“My guess is Jimmy Sexton said Lane, ‘Let me do my job. Let me talk to all of them, and let’s get the best offer,'” Frangie said during his Friday appearance with Florida journalist Buddy Martin. “So I do believe the Kiffin camp has spoken with both LSU and Florida, buddy…I think Florida is going to offer him the job, and I think Lane Kiffin is going to be the next Florida coach.”

Frangie was quick to note, “that’s not definitive, but it’s been my gut all along.” “And I think you’re gonna see it happen.” Then, he offered a prediction regarding the timing of Kiffin’s move. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see an announcement between the regular season and the playoffs. That’d be my guess.”

Since taking over Ole Miss in 2020, Kiffin has racked up a 53-19 record, becoming the fastest coach in program history to reach 50 wins. With a résumé like that, it’s no surprise other programs, including NFL teams are circling. Kiffin is also a top target for LSU, but his ties to Florida stand out. He spent three seasons with FAU in Boca Raton, and his son Knox recently listed Florida as a top-three school in his recruitment.

Still, Kiffin remains tight-lipped about any future moves, and with a 9-1 overall record, the Rebels are close to a CFP spot and currently placed at No. 7 in the CFP ranking. That’s why he’s determined to tune out the noise and focus on keeping their winning streak alive.

“I said it last week, and you guys think I was joking, or it was before South Carolina. Everybody wants to talk about other jobs and everything, and I think you are two or three weeks away from coaching for your own job,” said Kiffin. “So, you better make sure you’re doing really well where you are. Because as we’ve seen out there, one (loss) might put you out of the top 10.” Oddsmakers aren’t buying the denials. BetOnline lists Kiffin at -300 to become Florida’s next head coach. But if not Kiffin, the Gators are not short on options.

Florida has options without Lane Kiffin

After Florida fired Billy Napier midseason, they immediately zeroed in on the Ole Miss coach, Lane Kiffin. But Ole Miss fans and even the HC haven’t given any indication that he plans to leave the Rebels. “I don’t know. I’m not that far down the road,” said Kiffin about his future. But the latest intel from Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo paints a clear picture.

“Kiffin is considered to be the No. 1 choice for Florida,” they reported. They also mentioned that LSU is lurking too. While price won’t be the issue, Ole Miss has said yes to nearly everything Kiffin has wanted in Oxford. So now, “It’s ultimately more about where he wants to be,” wrote one industry source, and that makes the chase more about desire. But the Gators aren’t flying blind.

If Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin slips away, the Gators have 3 strong backup plans locked. One is Washington’s Jedd Fisch, another is Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, and the 3rd one is possibly Louisville’s Jeff Brohm. Even BetOnline put them on its list. But nothing is settled yet before this season comes to an end.