Paul Finebaum Reveals How Much Longer Lane Kiffin Will Be at Ole Miss originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Lane Kiffin, the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, is one of the most polarizing figures in college football. Whether he’s posting on social media or engaging in an awkward back-and-forth with ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, Kiffin consistently makes headlines.
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Kiffin became the head coach of Ole Miss in 2020. During his tenure, he has achieved a record of 44-18, which includes 10 or more wins in three of the last four years. Before joining Ole Miss, Kiffin served as the head coach for the Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans and Florida Atlantic Owls. Notably, he never spent more than four seasons at any previous coaching position until arriving at Ole Miss.
That’s why on “The Paul Finebaum Show,” the SEC Network analyst discussed whether the Kiffin era in Oxford was nearing its end.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.Matt Bush-Imagn Images
“Kiffin told me recently that he loves it there,” Finebaum said. “His whole family is there. His kids are there. His ex-wife is there. I don’t see him leaving right now.”
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Finebaum has expressed surprise that Kiffin is still the head coach at Ole Miss, believing he would have accepted another job by now. Previously, Finebaum speculated that Kiffin would be a candidate for the Florida Gators’ job if they decided to part ways with Billy Napier last season. However, the Gators chose to retain Napier after a strong finish to the season, which included a victory over Kiffin and Ole Miss.
Finebaum has expressed strong optimism about the Rebels this season. He believes Ole Miss has a genuine chance to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in the program’s history.
Kiffin’s ability to navigate road games against Alabama and Oklahoma, along with home games against South Carolina and Florida later in the season, will greatly influence the team’s success.
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ESPN’s Football Power Index is High on the Rebels
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) measures team strength and predicts performance. This season, the FPI has a positive outlook on the Rebels.
The index lists Ole Miss as the No. 13 team in the nation, making it the No. 7 team in the SEC. The forecast predicts an 8-4 record for the season. Additionally, the Rebels have a 30.7% chance of making the playoffs, which gives them the sixth-best odds in the conference.
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The Rebels will begin their season against Georgia State on Aug. 30 at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names SEC Team With a ‘Real Shot’ of Making the Playoffs for the First Time
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
