What Ole Miss players said about Lane Kiffin to Florida rumors before Rebels play Gators
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OXFORD — Like always, Ole Miss football players are focused on blocking out external noise. There’s more of it to contend with lately.
No. 7 Ole Miss (9-1, 5-1 SEC) hosts Florida (3-6, 2-4) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Nov. 15 (6 p.m., ESPN).
Some of the game’s intrigue comes from speculation about Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s future. He has been connected to the Florida opening since the Gators fired Billy Napier on Oct. 19.
Kiffin said Nov. 10 he is keeping his focus on this season. His players are doing the same.
“We’re just ignoring it,” receiver Cayden Lee said Nov. 11. “We’re not listening to any outside noise. We’re just focused on what we have in the building.”
Kiffin said Florida is a dangerous team. The threat starts with former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, who has struggled in 2025 but has the capability to light defense up with his dual-threat ability.
“We block out all the distractions,” cornerback Jaylon Braxton said. “The outside noise. Just come prepared like it’s any other SEC game.”
Ole Miss stands in good position to make the College Football Playoff. The Rebels were No. 6 in the latest CFP rankings and have since notched a 49-0 win against The Citadel with two games remaining. The CFP rankings will be updated Nov. 11 (6 p.m., ESPN).
“Just keep the main thing the main thing,” offensive lineman Diego Pounds said. “That’s just going 1-0 every week.”
What Lane Kiffin said about coaching job priorities before Florida-Ole Miss
Kiffin revealed his No. 1 factor that decides what makes a job good on Nov. 10 at his weekly news conference.
Kiffin said the priorities around what makes a job good have shifted.
“People used to say facilities,” Kiffin said. “Practice field. Those things. I think that’s changed, and it’s going to change. It’s going to be, ‘How much NIL do you have? How is your collective? How is it run? How much do you have?'”
What Lane Kiffin said about Florida, Ole Miss fans feuding over where he coaches
Kiffin said he doesn’t think Florida fans will cheer for him when the Rebels play the Gators.
“I don’t think (fans will cheer),” Kiffin said Nov. 9. “I think that people run pretty true to their schools when it comes to cheering in the game.”
Kiffin coached at Florida Atlantic from 2017-19 before taking over at Ole Miss, and has been open about his reverence for former Florida coach Steven Spurrier. It’s why Kiffin wears a visor on the sidelines.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Lane Kiffin to Florida rumors impact Ole Miss football players
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