Rumors are flying again around Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s name, this time linking him to the Florida Gators. ESPN’s Molly McGrath reported that Kiffin had planned to address those rumors with his players, something he usually avoids during the season. He told her he wanted his team to see it as a compliment—a sign that their success is being noticed.

Playoff Chances

And he’s right. No.8 Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1 SEC) has built something real under Kiffin. The Rebels are contenders now, not just SEC spoilers. This is the most complete team Kiffin has had in Oxford, Miss. And with the College Football Playoff expansion, his program is positioned to compete year after year.

If Kiffin were ever going to leave, this would be the season. Along with Florida, there are possibly other big name openings that will become available, and his name will always attract attention. But this time, it feels different. He’s built Ole Miss into a consistent winner, and walking away from that doesn’t seem like his move.

These aren’t the BCS days anymore, when only blue bloods had a path to the title. In the new playoff era, programs like Ole Miss finally have a fair shot. And with the Rebels’ trajectory, Kiffin might realize that his best opportunity to reach college football’s biggest stage isn’t somewhere else. It is right where he is. For now, Kiffin and Ole Miss have their focus on No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1) in a critical SEC matchup.