If any coach is in the biggest soup this season, it’s none other than Florida Gators HC Billy Napier. It’s only mid-season, and there are already rumors that the Gators are looking for his replacement. The buzz is that Ole Miss Rebels’ HC Lane Kiffin might be the one to take over and wear the alligator badge before long. Wondering what will propel Kiffin to bid farewell to Ole Miss?

Well, the reason seems to be personal as discussed on The Ruffino & Joe Show podcast. Not only them, but another CFB insider comes up with a different reason behind Kiffin’s potential relocation. 

Lane Kiffin’s Florida move is more than just a job opportunity

Analyst Kevin Borba had already raised a premonition that Napier’s job now depends on how his program performs this season. And here came the biggest blow as Texas A&M celebrated their 33-20 victory with Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” While it’s nothing less than his dreams getting crashed for Napier, it’s going to be the dream job for the Ole Miss HC. But why so? The podcast host brings forward an intriguing reason that would attract Kiffin to Florida. “A big factor here that nobody wants to talk about his dad just passed, his mom lives in Florida that’s a good point,” highlighted the host. 

Lane’s father, the legendary Monte Kiffin passed away on July 11 at the age of 84. His mother Robin Kiffin lives all by herself. Now it’s his duty to ensure that his mother gets to enjoy the warmth of living with her family. Well, it can be quite tricky, given Napier’s buyout has been estimated to be roughly around $26 million. But that hasn’t stopped CFB insiders from sharing their thoughts.

Lane Kiffin’s national championship dreams a step ahead

The rumors have already started to heat up. The Gators have one of the toughest schedules in the FBS that shuts the door for Napier to save the sinking ship now that he is already on the verge of losing top recruits. It has now become more of a Gators tradition. Their last three coaches, Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, and Dan Mullen failed to make it through four full seasons in Gainesville. This was enough for Josh Pate to drop a big claim on the Crain & Company podcast.   

“In a heartbeat, Lane Kiffin would walk to Florida if they would give him a job,” confidently stated Pate. However, as analysts often face rage from the fans, this comment was no exception. As Pate informed, “I’ve got Ole Miss people in my very close social circle and they fight me on this. They’re like ‘What can you do at Florida that you can’t do at Ole Miss?’” To which his answer was enough to zip up the fans, “Win a National Championship is what you can do there.”

Lane Kiffin is one of the seven coaches who could get his breakthrough bagging the national championship for the first time in 2024. In Ole Miss history, the only time they won the National Championship was in 1960, but the Florida Gators have claimed three championships since 1996. Will Kiffin steal Napier’s role and open his championship luck with the Gators? Let your opinion pour in!