Kiffin Addresses Florida Rumors; Pay Complicates Move

Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss coach linked to Florida after Billy Napier’s firing, addressed the job rumors with his team ahead of the Oct. 25 game at Oklahoma, saying the speculation is a byproduct of winning and a compliment to his players. During that matchup, a large section of Oklahoma fans taunted Kiffin with the Florida “Gator Chomp,” a moment that drew social-media attention. Ole Miss sits 6-1 and is in College Football Playoff conversation, and voices around Oxford have downplayed the likelihood he departs, citing his investment in and control of the program he has built. Kiffin’s current compensation — roughly $9 million a year with up to $2.6 million in bonuses and a buyout north of $36 million — would complicate any move and would leave him among the nation’s highest-paid coaches if he left. On-field focus remains on preparation and performance amid the speculation as Ole Miss seeks to sustain its run.