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National CFB analyst makes bold statement about Lane Kiffin and Florida Gators HC job, and he's the first outside of Florida to do so
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The entire college football world is waiting on Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin to make a decision.

We know that the Florida Gators have been very interested since they fired head coach Billy Napier. There have been rumors for weeks about him coming to Gainesville, and it doesn't help that Kiffin hasn't shut down the rumors swirling around him and the Ole Miss program.

“I love what we’re doing here. Today was awesome. To even talk about it right now would be so disrespectful to our players and what they did today,” said Kiffin. “I love it here at Ole Miss.”

CBS analyst predicts Lane Kiffin to Florida with new information

We've heard a lot of different reports about what Kiffin will do. His family has already made visits to both Gainesville and Baton Rouge in preparation for potentially making a move to one of those cities. The question is: which one?

CBS asked its panel of analysts where Kiffin will end up. The results:

  • Brian Jones: Not at Ole Miss
  • Randy Cross: Ole Miss
  • Aaron Taylor: Florida
  • Rick Neuheisel: Florida

Here's where things get really interesting. Taylor didn't just predict that he would go to Florida, but he also mentioned that it's a done deal with some new information.

"I think it's going to be Gainesville," said Taylor. "I've heard some things that he's already talked to the team, and that's why everybody's so frustrated because it's a done deal and it just hasn't been announced."

The fact that it's a "done deal" hasn't been talked about much, but it has been discussed. The home of the Gators 1010XL in Jacksonville's Dan Hicken said the same thing during Saturday's postgame show.

“We’re not going to sit here and tell you Kiffin is coming to Gainesville, but all indications to me, and I’ll let you speak for yourself [Prosser], are that Kiffin is coming to Gainesville,” said Hicken. “They have agreed to everything, and I hear [the announcement] is after the Egg Bowl.”

This is the first time that we have heard information like this spoken about outside of the Gators market, which could end up being a good sign for Lane heading to Jacksonville. Will it happen? That's not certain right now, but it's feeling more and more promising.

This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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