Urban Meyer knows the crossroads Lane Kiffin is standing at all too well. And the former Ohio State coach is urging the Ole Miss figure to think carefully before making a move that could haunt the rest of his career.
Meyer left undefeated Utah in December 2004 to take the Florida job and the way it went down still gets to him. He shared his experience Tuesday on FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Meyer still feels the emotional weight of leaving a championship team before its postseason run.
With sixth-ranked Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC) and one win from its first College Football Playoff berth, he warned Kiffin that timing matters as much as opportunity.
"That might haunt Lane…how do you walk in that meeting and say, ‘Hey guys, I’m not only leaving, I’m gonna be playing you next year?’ I don’t know" – Urban Meyer on Lane Kiffin pic.twitter.com/WN494PfFbV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 25, 2025
“I had a similar situation,” Meyer said. “We went undefeated, broke into the BCS, and I left for Florida. It ripped your heart out. I went back and coached the Fiesta Bowl and won, but this is uncharted waters.”
Kiffin is expected to announce his future Saturday, one day after the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State. This comes as heat from Florida and LSU intensify. He is considered the top candidate for both vacancies.
Meyer said the emotional toll of leaving a title contender mid-run could linger for decades.
“This might haunt Lane the rest of his life,” he said. “How do you walk into that team meeting and say, ‘Not only am I leaving, but I’m going to be playing you next year?’”
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