Lane Kiffin’s Handling of Coaching Rumors Is Upsetting SE...

By Nelson Espinal

Contributing Sports Reporter

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Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is the talk of the town in the college football world, as multiple teams are fighting for his signature long-term.

Kiffin has managed to rebuild Ole Miss — a middling SEC team when he took over — into a College Football Playoff contender.

His stock as a coach has never been higher in his storied career, especially as a play caller. He has the Rebels' offense humming at the moment and has shown his recruitment chops by targeting the right players to fill the team's needs.

Florida and LSU have already expressed their clear interest in attracting Kiffin, hoping he can be the man to put them on the right path and at least take them to where Ole Miss is.

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Ole Miss, however, does not want to lose its head coach, especially amid a playoff run, which has led to consternation over his indecision.

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According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, the Gators, Tigers, and Rebels are all stuck in limbo, waiting for the sought-after coach to decide his fate, and the continued waiting is having adverse effects.

"It was only a matter of time before Kiffin’s balancing act spilled into the public and became a mess for everyone involved," Vannini reports.

"From the moment South Florida upset Florida and made clear the Gators would move on from Billy Napier, this was always going to be the result. After all the work done to rehabilitate his image, Kiffin is now stringing people along and upsetting almost everyone in the process."

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Ole Miss is currently going through their bye week in preparation for the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State. School officials have given Kiffin until after their next game to decide his future, though he has refused such an ultimatum.

Potentially, Kiffin could be removed from his post ahead of the playoffs due to the uncertainty, though Ole Miss will not want to make such a drastic decision unless it absolutely has to.

The following week will be full of twists and turns, but a resolution must be reached soon, for the sake of all three college programs involved.

For all the latest NCAA football news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.

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