Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Record: 50-19 in six seasons at Ole Miss; 111-53 in 14th season overall
Buzz: Kiffin’s Ole Miss offenses have ranked in the top three of the SEC, including No. 1 in 2020, 2021 and 2024, while Billy Napier’s attack currently ranks 13th, and was 12th in 2024. Quarterback DJ Lagway and tailback Jadan Baugh, both sophomores, and true freshman receivers Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III would thrive in Kiffin’s system. Kiffin has yet to contend for an SEC title, but at UF he would have better resources, facilities and tradition to sell in one of the nation’s recruiting hotbeds. Few better capitalize on the transfer portal. The 50-year-old is settled in Oxford and has matured from the brash, unreliable 30-something at Tennessee in 2009 or later at USC. Another selling point: Ex-wife Layla Reaves is the daughter of former Gators quarterback great John Reaves.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Record: 38-12 in fourth season.
Buzz: Freeman is one of the sport’s rising stars — just 39, charismatic, a top recruiter and a winner. At Florida, he would be able to lure players, especially from the portal, he could not at Notre Dame, where stringent academic requirements have been a source of consternation for previous coaches, including LSU’s Brian Kelly. Freeman does have a defensive background; he was a three-year starting linebacker at Ohio State (2006-08). The Gators’ ethos, inspired by Steve Spurrier, is scoring points. But Freeman hired Mike Denbrock away from LSU in late 2023, a move considered a coup, and has put together top offensive lines, an area where the Gators have struggled for years.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Record: 44-25 in sixth season; 58-26 in seventh season overall.
Buzz: Drinkwitz inherited a floundering program, but steadily built it into one of the SEC’s most consistent. The Tigers are 27-6 the past three seasons after going 17-19 his first three years in Columbia. The 42-year-old is offensive minded and can be brash, giving Gator fans a dash of Spurrier. Missouri’s recruiting has improved significantly with Drinkwitz, who inked the No. 14 class in 2025, including the No. 7 transfer class, according to 247Sports. Three of his past four recruiting classes ranked 21st or higher. Drinkwitz won’t come cheaply. Missouri signed him to an extension in July, paying him $9 million annually, eventually rising to $9.5 million in 2028. If the the native of Alma, Ark., were to leave, he also could consider his home state Razorbacks after the school fired Sam Pittman.
Jedd Fisch, Washington
Record: 28-30 in fifth season
Buzz: Fisch is a potential long shot, but has strong UF ties. The 49-year-old was a graduate assistant under Steve Spurrier in 1999-2000 after earned his degree at UF in 1998. The Huskies are 5-2 during Fisch’s second season after Saturday’s 24-7 loss at Michigan. He inherited an abhorrent Arizona program in 2021 as a first-time head coach, went 1-11 and two seasons later was 10-3 before heading to Seattle.
James Franklin
Record: 128-60 in 15 seasons, including 104-45 in 12 seasons at Penn State
Buzz: Franklin is a mixed bag and a fallback option. He was 24-15 from 2011-13 at Vanderbilt, winning there like no one had in decades. Franklin failed to win another Big Ten title at Penn State after his team captured the 2016 crown. He also led the 2024 Nittany Lions to the CFP semifinals. But his free fall at Penn State ended with consecutive losses to UCLA and Northwestern despite being favored by 20 or more points, a first since the FBS and FCS split in 1978. Franklin won at a 69.8% rate, but won 16% of the time against AP top-10 teams. Franklin is a strong recruiter who signed running back Saquon Barkley and linebacker Micah Parsons, two NFL megastars.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Originally Published: October 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM EDT