By Matt AudiletShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberLane Kiffin is the hottest name in college football right now as he fields coaching-carousel interest from some of the top programs in the country.
Kiffin, leader of the 10-1 Ole Miss Rebels, is the top candidate for coaching vacancies at both Florida and LSU. Ole Miss obviously wants to retain its head coach as well, kicking off a massive bidding war for the highly-sought-after coaching option.
While Florida's interest in Kiffin is undeniable, it appears the Gators' program may be bringing up the rear in the pursuit for his services.
According to ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Kiffin is deciding between LSU and Ole Miss — with Florida viewed as more of a tertiary option. The Gators are "still in the mix," but it appears the Tigers have the better odds to pull Kiffin away from Oxford.
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Thamel referenced the fact that Florida is casting a wider net in its coaching search, while LSU is narrowed solely on Kiffin as its top target.
“The main competition for Ole Miss retaining Kiffin appears to be LSU right now," Thamel said on ESPN's College GameDay Saturday. "Florida has cast a wide search, they’ve talked to multiple candidates face to face. LSU is focused in solely on Kiffin. Florida certainly is still in the mix, but right now, it appears LSU-Ole Miss is the decision that Kiffin is facing.”
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Thamel isn't the only college football insider to report Florida as Kiffin's third option. Earlier this week, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz shared a similar sentiment.
"Sources have indicated throughout the week that they believe Florida is running third in the Kiffin sweepstakes," Zenitz reported. "... While it is unlikely there will be definitive clarity before next Saturday, numerous sources with knowledge of the situation have told CBS Sports in the last 24 hours that they believe the momentum has shifted in LSU's favor to land the talented head coach."
Kiffin is scheduled to announce his final decision in a highly-anticipated press conference after the Rebels' Egg Bowl matchup against Mississippi State on Nov. 28.
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