Just minutes before the Egg Bowl took center stage, reports emerged revealing Lane Kiffin is no longer a candidate for the Florida Gators coaching job.
“Florida has shifted focus from Lane Kiffin in the school’s coaching search, as the school has sensed through irregular communication that he’s interested in other options. Florida has interviewed roughly a dozen candidates and is optimistic about the process,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported.
The Ole Miss coach is expected to choose between staying in Oxford or leaving the Rebels to become the next head coach of the LSU Tigers, who fired Brian Kelly in the middle of the season.
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With Kiffin out of the running, Florida has reportedly turned its attention to Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, who was seen as the favorite to become the LSU head coach if Kiffin decided to stay at Ole Miss or become the Ole Miss head coach if Kiffin left for LSU.
Now he appears to be emerging as the favorite at Florida after Kiffin’s decision to pick between LSU and Ole Miss. On3’s Zach Abolverdi revealed Sumrall is expected to make his decision this weekend.
Thamel added, “Tulane coach Jon Sumrall is expected to make a decision on his coaching future on Sunday morning. He’s expected to choose between staying at Tulane, and his outside opportunities have included significant interest from Florida and Auburn.”
The ESPN insider speculated Sumrall also has interest in LSU and Ole Miss. “There’s also potential ripples from Lane Kiffin’s decision for Sumrall, as either LSU will remain open or Ole Miss will become open on Saturday. Tulane is No. 24 in the College Football Playoff and closes the season at home against Charlotte on Saturday night,” he said.
The dominoes are beginning to tumble into place.
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