Rece Davis doubles down on what Ole Miss should do if Lane Kiffin takes a different job before CFP

Some college football experts have speculated that Ole Miss won’t allow Lane Kiffin to coach in the College Football Playoff this season if he doesn’t intend to return for the 2026 campaign. On the College GameDay Podcast, ESPN’s Rece Davis weighed in on this controversial notion.

“Ole Miss, you haven’t won anything. Let him coach. Just let him coach the team. Whether he leaves, whether he doesn’t leave, don’t impose these artificial deadlines. What in the world? Who cares?” Davis said. “I understand [Ole Miss wants a decision], and I don’t blame Ole Miss for that. And, they should apply their leverage, just as Lane Kiffin is using his to make his own decision.

“If he’s all in, coach the team, try to win a championship, see what happens, let the chips fall as they may. It might put you in better stead. At the end, he might even have a more difficult time leaving if you win a championship.”

Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that Ole Miss had given Kiffin an ultimatum, forcing him to choose between staying at Ole Miss or accepting another job by the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28. Kiffin refuted this report.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel believes there was officially no ultimatum, but Ole Miss wants an answer soon. Rece Davis thinks Kiffin should get to coach his team in the CFP, no matter where he decides to coach next season. Alas, Davis also emphasized it isn’t fair for Kiffin to deflect questions about his interest in outside coaching gigs.

“All of this is fair game because it’s a business. He has to make a business decision,” Davis said. “The players are going to—whether he stays or goes—are going to make a business decision about whether they are continuing their careers and studies at Ole Miss or elsewhere. That is where we are in college football.

“But, you can’t hide behind, ‘You can’t ask about it because it’s disrespectful or disruptive to the players.’ You caused the disruption. You started it.”

Ole Miss is 10-1 and is expected to make its first CFP appearance in program history. Kiffin is in his sixth season at the helm of the program. LSU and Florida are both interested in hiring Kiffin.

Kiffin’s family visited Gainesville, Florida, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, earlier this week. On Friday, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter released a statement that revealed the school will make an announcement on Kiffin’s future the day after the Egg Bowl.