Ole Miss football secured a thrilling come-from-behind victory in Week 12, defeating Florida 34-24 in what has been dubbed the “Lane Kiffin Bowl.” This win marked the Rebels’ 10th of the season, bringing them one step closer to making their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.
As the Rebels celebrated at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Ole Miss fans made their message crystal clear to the program’s leadership and head coach Lane Kiffin: They want him to stay. Captured during the ESPN broadcast, chants of “We Want Lane” erupted from the Ole Miss student section, especially after numerous reports linked Kiffin to the open Florida head coaching position, along with other vacancies in Power Five conferences.
Despite the swirling speculation, Kiffin remained focused, locked in on the final 60 seconds of the game as his team closed out the victory. His calm demeanor reflected the maturity and leadership he has demonstrated throughout his tenure at Ole Miss.
In seven seasons with the Rebels, Kiffin has become a consistent name on coaching hot boards whenever major openings arise in college football. His connection to the state of Florida and his coaching pedigree have only fueled these rumors. Legendary former Florida coach Steve Spurrier recently told USA TODAY Sports’ Blake Toppeymer that he is a fan of Kiffin and regards him as a “very good coach.”
On a recent appearance on the podcast “Pardon My Take,” Kiffin reflected on his coaching influences, saying, “I wanted to be Steve Spurrier.” He has also addressed the speculation about his future during an episode of ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” emphatically stating that he will never “make a decision based on money,” a principle he has apparently upheld throughout his coaching career.
With the win over Florida, Ole Miss’ overall record under Kiffin improved to 54-19, highlighting the coach’s success and stability with the program.
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