Lane Kiffin's Family Has Reportedly Scouted Gainesville and Baton Rouge in the Last 24 Hours and Ole Miss May Be Imposing a Deadline for Him To Make a Decision

On3 — Ole Miss is looking for clarity at some point this week about Lane Kiffin’s future with the Rebels, sources tell On3’s Chris Low, Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos. The sixth-year head coach has Ole Miss on the precipice of the first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. 

Sources have told On3 that Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter is seeking an answer from Kiffin about his future ahead of Egg Bowl game week. Kiffin has become the most popular name in this coaching carousel, with LSU and Florida courting him as their top target.

If Kiffin misses the deadline, sources have raised questions about what the ramifications could be. Could he coach Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, even the College Football Playoff? Those questions are unanswered.

News broke on Monday afternoon that members of Kiffin’s family were in Baton Rouge. Sources tell On3 that they made a trip to Gainesville on Sunday, too.

Ole Miss came from behind to beat Florida on Saturday night, extending its record to 10-1 and virtually assuring itself a spot in the College Football Playoff. But that joy didn't even last 48 hours before the Lane Kiffin speculation seems to have reached its highest point yet.

Kiffin's family reportedly toured both Gainesville and Baton Rouge in the last 24 hours and now Ole Miss may be imposing a deadline for him to make up his mind, potentially leaving the Rebels with an interim head coach in the College Football Playoff.

I totally understand Lane is going to do what he feels is the best for himself and his family and if that means taking the Florida or LSU job, then go for it. But I hate that this seems like it could turn into a situation where he leaves for a new job prior to the Playoff and the team that is in the midst of the most important time of the best season in school history is just hung out to dry. They're caught in the middle between a coach who might leave and a school which, understandably, wants to know if that coach wants to be there or not. Because if it's the latter, they'll get someone else to do it.

But as usual, it's the players and the fans who get screwed.

One way or the other, though, it seems like we might be nearing a resolution on this whole situation. I have no idea where it's going to be, but I feel very confident in saying Kiffin will make a lot of money to coach football somewhere next year.