Lane Kiffin met with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter on Friday and they agreed to make a decision on the coveted coach’s status for another week.
Carter designated November 29, one day after the Egg Bowl, as decision day in Oxford, Miss.
Kiffin, 50, has become the top target for coaching vacancies at Southeastern Conference rivals LSU and Florida. The triangular conference tug-of-war sparked viral talking points nationally and sparked a public outcry from Mississippi elected officials, while the Rebels remain central to the SEC championship and College Football Playoff pictures.
Let’s stay connected and focus on conserving the golden egg! pic.twitter.com/5xPfDozhl2
– Keith Carter (@KeithCarterOM) November 21, 2025
Carter gave Kiffin seven more days to plan his next move.
“Coach Kiffin and I have had many insightful and positive conversations regarding his future at Ole Miss, including our meeting today with Chancellor (Glenn) Boyce,” Carter’s statement said. “As we discuss next steps, we know we cannot lose sight of what is most important: our sixth-ranked team, which is poised to finish the 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 our players and coaches can fully concentrate on next Friday’s game. This team is on the cusp of an unprecedented season, and it is imperative that 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.”
Ole Miss is 10-1 (6-1 SEC), ranked sixth in the country and in position to host a first-round College Football Playoff game in December if the Rebels can win against rival Mississippi State on Nov. 28, the long-standing state rivalry known as the Egg Bowl.
It’s still possible that Ole Miss could reach the SEC championship game played on the first Saturday in December. With a win over Mississippi State and rivalry game losses to Alabama (to Auburn in the Iron Bowl) and No. 3 Texas A&M (at Texas), the Rebels are booked for the conference title game by virtue of a three-way tiebreaker (SEC opponent’s winning percentage).
According to multiple media outlets, members of Kiffin’s family recently traveled to Gainesville, Florida, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to explore the areas in case Kiffin chose to take one of those jobs. Ole Miss does not have a game this week and is expected to return to practice on Sunday.
It was also reported that Carter gave Kiffin an ultimatum to inform Ole Miss administrators of his intention to stay at Oxford or take another job before the Mississippi State game, although it was unclear what action the school would take if he did not do so. Kiffin disputed that information during an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week.
Kiffin is in his sixth season at Ole Miss and his 14th as a college head coach after being hired as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2007 at age 31. He was let go during his sophomore season, then spent one season at Tennessee (2009) before leaving for Southern California (2010-13). After being fired at USC, he rebuilt his image as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Nick Saban before finding success as the head coach of Florida Atlantic (2017-19) and transitioning to an Ole Miss job.
Kiffin has led the Rebels to at least 10 wins in four of the last five seasons, including a program-record 11 wins in 2023. Ole Miss had three 10-win seasons since 1963 before Kiffin took the job.
–Field level media
