Pat McAfee Sends Clear Message to Lane Kiffin Amid Florid...

By Rowan Fisher-ShottonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Lane Kiffin’s name has become the gravitational center of college football’s late‑season coaching drama.

As the Rebels sit 10-1, No. 6 in the AP Top 25, and in line for their first-ever College Football Playoff berth, it was revealed on Friday that the choice that could reshape the SEC will be declared after the Egg Bowl on November 29.

With new reports surfacing, College GameDay spent Saturday weighing Kiffin’s future, punctuated by Pat McAfee’s comments.

"I would like to say, if Lane Kiffin is listening... You're allowed to be happy and content, brother. You're allowed to be at a place and have massive success. You're allowed to build a place from scratch. You're allowed to become a 'G.O.A.T.' at a place," McAfee said.

"But I would like to stick up for Ole Miss. That place is awesome. They got a lot of great players who can play another year. Lane's done a fantastic job."

Kirk Herbstreit then says, "Would you stay or would you go? I would stay."

"If I'm Lane? He's got 6 a.m. yoga. Non-negotiable. He goes to every single day. Then I think he plays pickleball. His boy just won by 10 last night in the playoffs. I think in Oxford. I mean, he is very content. And after watching his documentary, it's like you're allowed to be happy, dude," McAfee responded.

Loading twitter content...

Read More: Deion Sanders Shares Instant Reaction to Shedeur Sanders NFL Debut

Now in his sixth season as head coach, Kiffin has transformed Ole Miss into a national title contender, and the 2025 Rebels have the program positioned for its most consequential postseason run in years.

That success is the reason LSU and Florida have both pursued Kiffin aggressively this fall, scheduling private flights and visits and reportedly putting together deals worth up to $90 million ($13 million annually).

...

Read More: Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham Addresses Rumors About Coaching Future

The timeline intensified on Friday when Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter confirmed discussions with Kiffin and set a clear announcement date for the week after the Egg Bowl.

Kiffin has alternated between short, personal posts on social media and declining to respond to direct questions from reporters, leaving reporters and media figures like McAfee to fill the gaps.

With a firm deadline now in place, the only things guaranteed are that Kiffin will coach through the Egg Bowl, and an announcement is expected the following day.

The college football world will be watching closely until then.

Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines