STACKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin sighed and leaned forward in his chair when asked after victory with a score of 38-19 on Mississippi State whether he still plans to announce his future coaching plans by Saturday as he promised Ole Miss.
“I feel like I have to do it,” Kiffin said, adding that making such an announcement “isn’t as nice as people think.”
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Kiffin could remain at No. 6 Mississippi State (11-1, 7-1 SEC, No. 7 CFP), which is now a virtual lock for a College Football Playoff berth – even likely hosting a first-round game.
Asked if he thought Ole Miss had earned a home game in the first round of the CFP, Kiffin said, “I think absolutely… You go 11-1 and that should be obvious in the SEC.”
LSU and Florida have two of the most in-demand coaching jobs in the country. Throughout Friday's Egg Bowl, especially in the second half, Mississippi State fans chanted the names of both schools during timeouts and other stoppages.
However on Friday Florida appears to have taken notice of Tulane coach John Sumrall.a virtual admission that the Gators didn't expect to land Kiffin.
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“I haven’t made a decision yet,” said Kiffin, who did not decline to answer questions during a roughly 20-minute postgame press session but did not extol the value of any of the options.
“I need to pray a little bit to figure this situation out,” Kiffin said. “I live one day at a time. I know it doesn't help you, but it helps me.”
Kiffin hurried out of Starkville and headed back to Oxford to watch his son Knox, the starting quarterback in Friday's Class 7A Mississippi High School North Half championship game against top-ranked Tupelo.
“I’m going to become a father tonight,” Kiffin said. “If (Oxford) could find a way to win it would be an amazing day.”
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Kiffin did not give a specific timeline for Saturday's decision or the timing of the announcement: “It's a fair question, but I really don't know. It's not my decision.”
The most emotional moment came as Kiffin considered which sources he would turn to for final consultation.
“I miss my dad,” he said before clearing his throat and naming former Southern California coach Pete Carroll and Alabama coach Nick Saban. Kiffin was part of both coaches and often called them his mentors.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter asked Kiffin to make a decision by Saturday so the Rebels would know whether they need to look for a new coach before it's too late to attract their preferred candidate.
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Carter, as usual, attended Kiffin's postgame press conference but did not comment.
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