Lane Kiffin saga: Where LSU football stands entering pivotal week

The Lane Kiffin saga continues. The Ole Miss head coach is in high demand and is the leading candidate for the coaching vacancies at LSU and Florida. Meanwhile, Ole Miss isn't going down without a fight and will make a strong offer to keep Kiffin in Oxford.

Ole Miss is 10-1 and ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Rebels are one win away from CFP berth, yet their coach is exploring other jobs. These are unprecedented times. If Kiffin moves on, Ole Miss won't let him coach the playoff. That much is pretty clear and it's potentially one of the elements making this drag on.

Coaching the playoff is a lot for a coach to give up and it wouldn't be surprising if this was making Kiffin's choice harder.

Stakeholders hoped they'd leave last week closer to a resolution. All three schools anxiously await Kiffin to make a decision, but we're still in limbo as the week begins.

Here's what you may have missed last week and how it impacts LSU football's coaching search.

Kiffin meets with Ole Miss on Friday, AD releases statement

Lane Kiffin met with the Ole Miss brass on Friday afternoon. Not much came out publicly. After the meeting, Ole Miss AD Keith Carter released a statement, saying an announcement on Kiffin's future would be made after Friday's Egg Bowl.

“Coach Kiffin and I have had many pointed and positive conversations regarding his future at Ole Miss, including meeting today with Chancellor [Glenn] Boyce," Carter said. "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. An announcement on Coach Kiffin’s future is expected the Saturday following the game.”

Carter's statement didn't give Ole Miss fans much confidence. It doesn't mean Kiffin is out the door, but it means he didn't sign an extension. If Kiffin was committed to staying, why not announce it now? It reads like Kiffin is still deciding or has already decided to leave.

Reports reveal details of LSU's offer to Kiffin

Over the weekend, multiple reports detailing LSU's offer to Kiffin emerged. On Friday night, Yahoo's Ross Dellenger reported LSU was preparing a seven-year deal worth at-least $90 million. On Saturday, CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello reported the total could approach $100 million and make Kiffin the highest-paid coach in the sport.

Here's more from Marcello's story:

"The deal is believed to be for seven years and worth as much as $98 million, the source said, and includes a significant promise that would make LSU competitive in revenue sharing and NIL, the source said. A formal offer has not yet been made. Kiffin is expected to make a decision on his future after next Friday's Egg Bowl against rival Mississippi State, Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter said Friday."

According to USA TODAY Sports, the current top-paid coach is Georgia's Kirby Smart at $13.2 million per year.

Has LSU pulled away from Florida?

Three schools are all in on Kiffin being their coach in 2026. Ole Miss, where Kiffin currently resides, while LSU and Florida have put Kiffin at the top of their wishlist.

For much of November, Florida was viewed as the biggest threat to pry Kiffin from Oxford. The tune has changed in the last week and reporters have LSU in pole position.

On College Gameday, ESPN's Pete Thamel said Florida remains in the mix, but the "main competition for Ole Miss retaining Kiffin appears to be LSU."

"LSU and Ole Miss is the decision that Kiffin is facing," Thamel said.

What is LSU's backup plan?

Thamel also mentioned Florida casting a wide net in its coaching search. LSU, on the other hand, has put much of its focus on Kiffin. There's not a long list of candidates at LSU right now.

But if the Tigers do miss on Kiffin, AD Verge Ausberry and the search committee will have to pivot.

Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz's name has been tossed out as a potential candidate. As has Tulane's Jon Sumrall. If LSU has to reset, could we see Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham back in the mix?

There's a lot we don't know right now. That's why Kiffin is such a huge domino. After Kiffin reveals his decision, the coaching carousel will start spinning.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Lane Kiffin saga: Where LSU football stands entering pivotal week