Ole Miss AD Under Fire for New Deadline

By Jordan SiglerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

On Friday, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter met with Lane Kiffin about the head coach's plans for 2026.

More News: Ole Miss Could Fire Lane Kiffin Before College Football Playoff

Kiffin has been linked to LSU and Florida in recent weeks as the Rebels have climbed to No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings and amassed a 10-1 record before playing Mississippi State in the "Egg Bowl" on Nov. 29.

In a statement released by Carter on Friday afternoon, Ole Miss plans to reveal Kiffin's decision on Nov. 29, one day after its regular season ends.

...

More News: Texas-Steve Sarkisian Exit Rumor Pops After Blowout Loss

"Coach Kiffin and I have had many pointed and positive conversations regarding his future at Ole Miss, including meeting today with Chancellor Boyce," Carter posted. "While we discuss next steps, we know we cannot lose sight of what is most important- our sixth-ranked team that is poised to finish the regular season in historic fashion.

"Despite the outside noise, Coach Kiffin is focused on preparing our team for the Egg Bowl, and together, we want to ensure that our players and coaches can concentrate fully on next Friday's game. This team is on the cusp of an unprecedented season, and it's imperative they feel the support of the Ole Miss family in the week ahead."

Loading twitter content...

During an episode of ESPN's "The Paul Finebaum Show" on Friday, the host criticized Carter's handling of the announcement, calling it a "vapid statement."

“I'll be a little more blunt, I don't think it accomplished anything," Finebaum said. "It was just a completely vapid statement that meant nothing other than we had a meeting today, and it will take you (another) eight days (to know) because everybody known to mankind is aware that after the Egg Bowl, Kiffin has to make a decision...

"And by the way, after that game next Friday, he could easily say he's staying at Ole Miss, and then the Ole Miss fans can be outraged that all of us mean old media people just made such a big deal out of nothing, but it doesn't seem like Keith Carter just fed the beast there.”

Some Ole Miss fans had less patience for Carter than Finebaum.

"I don’t think this is gonna work buddy," a fan posted on X. "I know you’re in a tough position. If he’s gone let’s cut ties and let him go. Saban cut him loose when he was flirting with FAU. Get an interim in there and let’s win the Eggbowl and get to the playoffs at 11-1."

"It's an absolute disgrace that he has been allowed and is continued to be allowed to drag the school, the players, the staff and the entire Ole Miss community through all of this and still be allowed to continue to coach. I'd rather lose without him than win with him," posted another.

Carter has his hands tied at the moment. Kiffin gave Ole Miss prior notice that he intended to speak to rival programs about coaching jobs, so firing the head coach doesn't appear to be an option unless the program is ready to take on a hefty buyout.

The best Carter and Ole Miss can hope for at this point is that Kiffin announces he signed a contract extension following the "Egg Bowl" on Nov. 28.

For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.

Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines