The Lane Kiffin Pursuit: New Details Emerge Surrounding the LSU Tigers Contract Offer

The race for Lane Kiffin is on across the Southeastern Conference with a three-team battle emerging between the Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers, and Florida Gators.

No. 5 Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC) has America's attention as a College Football Playoff contender with Kiffin at the helm, but questions surrounding his future have stolen headlines.

LSU and Florida are looking to lure the Rebels shot-caller out of Oxford with the pair of programs piecing together lucrative deals - along with strong NIL funding - to look to entice him.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt believes LSU and Ole Miss are both prepared to offer a blank check to Kiffin as the schools look to have him on their sidelines in 2026.

“There’s an old coaching adage out there that the quickest way to be defeated is to be distracted,” Klatt said. “I think that the biggest threat to Ole Miss down the stretch is distraction. And that distraction in the form of their future head coach.

Ole Miss Rebels Football. — Nov 15, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin reacts with Mississippi Rebels tight end Caleb Odom (4) during the fourth quarter against the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

"I don’t know where Lane Kiffin is going to end up. I know that Ole Miss is basically telling him, ‘Hey, it’s a blank check. You tell us what you need to stay here, and we will do it.’ I have that on good authority.

“I also have, on pretty good authority, that LSU is prepared to do the same thing for Lane Kiffin. They’ll basically tell him, ‘The keys are yours.’ Florida is a job that I think Lane would prefer over the other two, from what I’ve been told, and they are not quite in the same boat as Ole Miss and LSU in terms of ‘here, the sky is yours and name your price.’ There are more strings.”

Now, according to Football Scoop, the LSU Tigers' offer to Kiffin is to make him the highest paid coach in college football.

According to Football Scoop, "Sources tell FootballScoop that LSU's offer to Kiffin would top Kirby Smart's deal, currently the highest-paid college football coach. LSU's new AD Verge Ausberry, new President Wade Rousse and even the Governor of the great state of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, are on board."

LSU Tigers Football. — Nov 15, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin embraces running back Kewan Lacy (5) after defeating the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

"The question is, will Lane leave Ole Miss to go to one of their more detested rivals," the report added. "Moreover, Kiffin has emerged two different times as the top target in the Florida Gators' search to replace Billy Napier, several sources told FootballScoop. It's believed those two parties also spoke in recent weeks.

"Many in the profession do not expect Lane to make the move to LSU as the bad blood doesn't feel like something Lane is into these days."

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart currently sits as the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13.28 million per year.

Now, as the "Kiffin Sweepstakes" heat up, it's no secret that the LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels are prepared to offer massive contracts in order to have his services in 2026 and beyond.

More Ole Miss News:

National Analyst Believes Miami Dolphins Should Hire Ole Miss Football's Lane Kiffin

Ole Miss Football Great Doubles Down on Lane Kiffin to Florida Gators 'Not Happening'

Tony Vitello Pokes Fun at Ole Miss Football's Lane Kiffin in Goodbye to Tennessee

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.