Deal Reportedly on the Table to Bring Lane Kiffin to Florida Gators Football

Six years, $13.5 million per year. All guaranteed.

According to a well placed source with a history of accurate information, that is what it will take for the University of Florida to land Lane Kiffin’s signature on a contract that will make him the head football coach of the Gators starting as soon as the Ole Miss season comes to an end.

Per the source, Ole Miss would love to go higher but at $11.2 million per year for four years (state law on the years), Ole Miss money people including the Grove Collective have reached their maximum. “Ole Miss just can’t take the hit, they’re tapped out,” said the source, who noted that the Ole Miss athletic department will run a deficit for the third consecutive year, expected to be in the neighborhood of $12 million this fiscal year.

Three years ago, Ole Miss planned an aggressive stadium renovation and athletic facilities upgrades, but those were put on hold to pump money into coaches salaries and NIL. They need the stadium upgrades, but the money has to go into NIL to be able to compete with the rest of the Southeastern Conference.

Because the state of Mississippi has the smallest population of any state in the Southeastern Conference, there are fewer 4- and 5-star football prospects, necessitating Kiffin spending large amounts of money on NIL to lure transfer and keep the players he has.

Kiffin has long held the Florida Gators in high esteem. His dad (former Tampa Bay Bucs’ legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin) was a longtime Spurrier admirer and Kiffin’s late father-in-law was Florida legendary quarterback John Reaves. Reaves also played quarterback for Spurrier with the Tampa Bay Bucs and served as a Spurrier assistant both at Florida and South Carolina.  Kiffin has always worn a visor to show his respect for Spurrier, whose Fun ‘n Gun offense has had serious influence on the way he (Kiffin) calls plays.

Kiffin’s offense at Ole Miss has never averaged fewer than 33.5 points and 462 yards per game since becoming the head coach in 2020. Billy Napier’s best offense at Florida (starting 2022) averaged 424 yards and 29.5 points. Every year of the Napier regime, the Gators averaged fewer yards and points per game. Currently, Ole Miss averages 37.4 points and 491.4 yards per game. Florida, meanwhile, is averaging 22.4 points and 363 yards per game.

Kiffin’s run at Ole Miss (111-53) is the second best in school history. He has won 10 or more games in three of the last four years. Kiffin owns the only 11-win season in Ole Miss history and three of the school's seasons with 10 or more wins. The Rebels are currently ranked No. 8 nationally at 6-1 heading into Saturday’s road trip to Oklahoma.

Hall of Fame coach Johnny Vaught compiled a 190-61-12 record with six SEC championships and three national championships. Vaught never won an SEC after 1963, the last year of single platoon football.

From 1947-63 Ole Miss went 137-32-9, the second best record in all of college football. From 1964 until Kiffin became the head coach in 2020, Ole Miss went 339-303-7, the 48^th best record in all of college football.

Kiffin has brought about a revival of Ole Miss football, but he hasn’t won the SEC or made the playoff. Given the limited resources and the way he has had to construct rosters through the portal, Kiffin’s record is quite remarkable. Our Gator Bait source, himself a former SEC football assistant, says Kiffin is capable of winning national championships with the resources and recruiting footprint of the Florida Gators.

So what is it going to take for Florida to land Kiffin?

“A call from the Head Ball Coach might seal the deal for Kiffin,” our source said.