Paul Finebaum believes Lane Kiffin has already revealed his future, even if he hasn’t said it outright.
The ESPN analyst said Tuesday on Get Up that Kiffin’s carefully worded comments this week strongly suggest he will leave Ole Miss after the Egg Bowl and pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Finebaum explained what Kiffin didn’t say during his Monday press conference. With the Rebels sitting at 10-1 and preparing for a College Football Playoff berth, Finebaum said any coach intending to stay would have issued a clear, definitive commitment.
.@finebaum weighs in on Lane Kiffin and his future at Ole Miss 👀 pic.twitter.com/Er5ZVR1pd6
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 25, 2025
“He didn’t say, ‘I definitely will be here and coach my team in the College Football Playoff.’ That is not difficult,” Finebaum said. “Kiffin nuanced it, which means one thing. He is likely to leave.”
Finebaum added that the drama would be unthinkable for coaches in playoff contention, and that Ole Miss would almost certainly keep Kiffin off the sidelines if he accepted another SEC job.
The longtime ESPN commentator also believes Kiffin’s wavering stems from doubts about winning a national title in Oxford.
While Finebaum said Ole Miss may still be Kiffin’s best fit, he argued the coach sees Florida as a better match and LSU as the “hot” job, with its recent championship history with Nick Saban and Ed Orgeron.
With an announcement expected Saturday, Finebaum said the clues are already in plain sight, and none point to Kiffin staying at Ole Miss.
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