Report: Lane Kiffin again takes clear stance on Auburn rumors, states plans for 2023 season

Lane Kiffin has reportedly made his stance clear on his future at Ole Miss amid rumors of Auburn courting him.

According to Chris Low of ESPN, Kiffin has “reiterated” to the Rebels that he’s planning to stay in Oxford for the foreseeable future.

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“Lane Kiffin has reiterated to @OleMissFB officials and staff members that his plan is to remain as the Rebels’ head coach and that he’s not going to @AuburnFootball, sources tell ESPN,” tweeted Low.

While stranger things have happened in college football — heck, stranger things have happened involving Kiffin — it seems as if he’s committed to remaining at Ole Miss. Still, if Auburn truly believes Kiffin is the one to lead them into their next era of greatness, it’ll be tough for the Tigers to accept.

Time will tell what happens, but Lane Kiffin isn’t in any hurry to leave Ole Miss.

Lane Kiffin pressed directly on Auburn, when he will sign his Ole Miss contract extension

Continuing, the rumors have of course run rampant regarding Lane Kiffin possibly taking the Auburn job. One report, which Kiffin publicly disputed, said he would be resigning from Ole Miss as early as Black Friday to do so. Because of this, it hung over Thanksgiving’s Egg Bowl as a shadow, despite Kiffin’s denials. 

Coaches have used clever language to hide their intentions before. Lincoln Riley infamously promised not to leave Oklahoma for LSU, before deciding to leave Oklahoma for USC instead. Because of this, some people have felt Lane Kiffin might be using some careful language too. 

Following the Egg Bowl loss, a reporter decided to directly ask Lane Kiffin, if Auburn offers him its head coaching position, would he anticipate being Ole Miss’ head coach in 2023?

“I do,” Lane Kiffin replied.

In a follow-up question, the same reporter asked what he told his players on Wednesday when he spoke with them.

“I mean, I could easily just say that’s between team meetings that we don’t really talk about that, but I just told them that that report that probably you’re not paying much attention to, but probably your family is, is inaccurate and false reporting,” Lane Kiffin said. “So.”

In these situations, coaches often sign extensions with their current schools. After all, assuming a school wants to keep them, one of the best ways to do that is through a larger financial commitment. Some coaches even know this and will try to use an open job as leverage for an extension. Part of why the Lane Kiffin to Auburn rumors persist is that he hasn’t signed an extension to stay in Oxford. 

Lane Kiffin was then asked about what the timeline was for him to sign a contract extension with Ole Miss if he isn’t going to Auburn after all. 

“I don’t know,” Lane Kiffin said. “I mean, I’ve signed three. So, does the fourth one mean you’re never leaving? So, I don’t know. I’m much more focused and worried about the game than whether you sign another contract, and I’m not acting ungrateful for that, but, again, everybody thinks you sign a contract, well a year ago you said the same thing. Then, here we are again, so.”

Whether or not Lane Kiffin takes the Auburn job remains to be seen. No matter what he decides to do, this has been a fascinating saga in what has been an incredibly unique career.

On3’s Daniel Morrison contributed to this article.