Josh Pate weighs in on Lane Kiffin’s future amid Florida's push

Lane Kiffin’s coaching future has become the storyline that Florida fans cannot escape right now. With the Gators still searching for a permanent head coach and pressure growing across the program, every update connected to Kiffin sends a ripple through Gainesville.

Nothing has been finalized and no one in college football seems to know where Kiffin will be next season. As the speculation builds though, Josh Pate now believes the trend is moving away from Oxford and toward a potential major change that directly affects Florida’s search.

During his weekly appearance on Get Up, Pate was asked where he thinks Kiffin will be coaching next fall. His answers did not sound promising for those rooting for the Ole Miss Rebels.

“I think, if I had to place my money right now, he’ll be somewhere other than Oxford, Mississippi coaching next year,” Pate predicted.

Where Florida fits in the race

That possibility continues to hold Florida’s attention. The Gators have spent the past several weeks evaluating candidates, balancing booster expectations and roster needs with the desire to make a strong and stable hire. Lane Kiffin has stayed in the middle of almost every internal and external conversation.

This week only intensified all of it. The Kiffin family visited Gainesville and that development immediately created excitement among Florida supporters. With the Gators facing important roster choices, an unsettled staff, and the Early Signing Period approaching, any sign of genuine interest from Kiffin naturally fuels the idea that Florida could be in position to make the biggest move of the coaching cycle.

“What I do believe is there’s been a lot of window speculation. By that, I mean, if you’re a Florida booster, you have information that he may have visited Gainesville,” Pate said. “What you may not have known is, well, his family rather, not him. Well, his family is going to be in Baton Rouge the next day doing their due diligence, shopping around. The problem is that leads to really widespread speculation that a deal is done. I don’t think a deal has been done, at least not as of the time I woke up this morning.

“I think he’s really back and forth on it. I do think, and I may have given you a different answer last week, that, more than likely, he’ll be out of there.”

How timing could shape the Gators’ next move

For Florida, the situation creates both opportunity and uncertainty. Kiffin is one of the most unpredictable coaches in the sport and tends to weigh everything. That includes the roster, NIL strength, recruiting base, lifestyle, departmental support and long-term patience. Florida checks several of those boxes.

There is confidence that this is the type of job that could realistically pull him away from Ole Miss. LSU has also been mentioned, which has forced Florida to continue its search without public swings or missteps.

Pate believes timing now becomes the central piece of the puzzle. With rivalry week approaching, he thinks the Ole Miss leadership could push for clarity. That may impact Florida’s own timeline.

“Where it really gets interesting is, this time next week, we’re getting ready for the Egg Bowl,” Pate said. “We’re getting ready for Mississippi State–Ole Miss and the question that remains is, are the folks in positions of power at Ole Miss going to want an answer from him? Let me check that. Are they going to demand an answer from him before that game because of all the stuff we just talked about with the calendar?”

If Ole Miss demands a decision, Florida could be approaching a key moment in its own search. Whether Lane Kiffin becomes a realistic option or simply another chapter in a chaotic coaching cycle, his next move will influence how the Gators wrap up the season.

Not a member of Gators Online?

CLICK HERE to join the Gators Online community for $1! It’s the top place for passionate Florida fans to find the best insight and news in the market. 

Boasting a talented collection of experienced journalists, we dig deep into recruiting and provide breaking news and analysis on UF sports.