Pat McAfee tells Lane Kiffin to stay happy at Ole Miss amid LSU rumors
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As LSU, Penn State and other powerhouse college football programs search for their next head coach, Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin continues to be in the spotlight with speculation.
Former NFL punter and current ESPN personality Pat McAfee is among those who don’t want Kiffin to even consider leaving Oxford, Mississippi.
McAfee, a West Virginia University graduate, was speaking his piece Saturday on ESPN’s “College GameDay” when the subject of Kiffin came up.
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“College GameDay” sports reporter Pat McAfee on set before the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on August 30, 2025. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
“If Lane Kiffin is listening, I just want to say… You’re allowed to be happy and content, bro,” McAfee said. “You’re allowed to be somewhere and have great success. You’re allowed to build a place from the ground up. You’re allowed to be the GOAT somewhere. I think there’s a feeling among a lot of coaches that, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get into this, you’ve got to get into this’.”
Speculation between Kiffin and LSU increased after it was reported that university administrators and athletic directors had finalized terms on a major contract offer for Kiffin, who had a 115-53 record coaching career in college football between Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. LSU parted ways with Brian Kelly after three straight losses to ranked opponents earlier this season.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter and university president Glenn Boyce spoke with Kiffin Friday afternoon to discuss his future. Carter released a statement following the meeting, saying ultimately Kiffin’s future will be determined following the annual Egg Bowl against Mississippi State next Saturday. This is the No. 6 Rebels’ final game of the regular season.
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How much is LSU willing to give to Kiffin, who has a 54-19 record with the Rebels since taking over in 2020? While contract negotiations remain fluid, Yahoo Sports reported executives discussed a seven-year deal loaded with incentives and worth at least $90 million.
This would make Kiffin the highest-paid college football coach in the country.
It’s also worth noting that LSU plans to commit to “significant NIL and revenue share staff investments in excess of $25 million”; This will provide Kiffin, one of the top recruiters in the country, with extensive resources to find top talent across all 50 states. NIL resources are crucial for coaches to recruit the players necessary to create winning seasons in today’s college game.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin speaks to the media during SEC Media Day at the Omni Atlanta Hotel on July 14, 2025. (Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images)
At the same time, Florida, which fired Billy Napier earlier this season, hopes to lure Kiffin to Gainesville and restart a program desperate to move to the top of the college football standings.
Now both programs (and perhaps others) are aware that Kiffin has reached a good deal with the Rebels, who are poised to make the College Football Playoff this season. They will continue due diligence on other coaching targets, but Kiffin remains a top candidate until a decision is made.
It’s a tough situation for current Rebels players as they struggle to reach the CFP. Given the public nature of Kiffin’s situation, McAfee understands what they’re going through.
Former coach Rich Rodriguez left WVU for Michigan while he was with the Mountaineers. While McAfee understands this from a player’s perspective, Rodriguez’s time in Ann Arbor was not productive.
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin watches his team play against Oklahoma during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
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Adding to his argument for Kiffin staying at Ole Miss, McAfee said, “RichRod went to Michigan. He came back to West Virginia. If he had never left, this guy probably would have named the entire college after him.”
Everyone is looking forward to a long week in Oxford and college football to see where Kiffin’s future lies.
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