Andre Ware predicts Lane Kiffin will stay at Ole Miss, not leave for Florida, LSU

While the college football world waits to see what Lane Kiffin will do, ESPN analyst Andre Ware made his prediction. The ESPN analyst thinks he will stay at Ole Miss rather than leave for Florida or LSU.

Ole Miss is on a bye in Week 13, but Kiffin’s future is still dominating the headlines. He is squarely in the mix for both the LSU and Florida jobs, and On3’s Pete Nakos reported the Ole Miss coach’s family visited both Baton Rouge and Gainesville amid the pursuit.

However, during Florida State at NC State on Friday night, Ware argued Kiffin could stay at Ole Miss and keep building the Rebels program. Play-by-play commentator Anish Shroff also thought that way.

“A lot of resources have been poured into the football program,” Ware said. “And he has built that to where … he’s a contender every single year. To leave that and go start over, I don’t know if he wants to do that.”

In the lead-up to Ole Miss’ bye, the questions were getting louder about where Lane Kiffin will be in 2026. The Rebels played Florida in Week 12, and Ole Miss fans were chanting “We Want Lane!” after the victory at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Out of the bye, Ole Miss will head to Starkville to take on Mississippi State on Black Friday.

Lane Kiffin decision to be announced after Egg Bowl

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Lane Kiffin denied the idea of an “ultimatum” to inform the school of a decision by the Egg Bowl. Additionally, he received numerous questions about his next steps during this week’s SEC coaches teleconference. He made it clear he plans on coaching against Mississippi State in the season finale.

Meanwhile, the rumor mill is still churning. Kiffin also met with Carter on Friday, and the Ole Miss AD said an announcement regarding Kiffin’s future is expected after the Egg Bowl on Black Friday.

“Coach Kiffin and I have had many pointed and positive conversations regarding his future at Ole Miss, including meeting today with Chancellor Boyce,” Carter wrote in a statement. “While we discuss next steps, we know we cannot lose sight of what is most important – our sixth-ranked team that is poised to finish the regular 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 that our players and coaches can concentrate fully on next Friday’s game. This team is on the cusp of an unprecedented season, and it’s imperative 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.”