STWF Sports | Nov. 22, 2025 – The Lane Kiffin sweepstakes have officially taken over college football. With LSU and Florida preparing blockbuster offers and Ole Miss fighting to hold onto its star coach, the 50-year-old offensive mastermind suddenly finds himself at the center of one of the most dramatic coaching battles in recent memory.

And as the sport waits for Kiffin’s decision — expected by the end of November after No. 6 Ole Miss wraps up its rivalry showdown with Mississippi State — two of the biggest media personalities in sports have weighed in with very different views on what Kiffin should do next.

Portnoy: “It’s LSU — No Question.”

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, now a panelist on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, didn’t hesitate when asked where he would go if he were Kiffin.

“I would definitely go to LSU,” Portnoy said during Saturday’s show in Cincinnati. “Their fanbase is more into it, better place to recruit. I love everything about LSU. Florida doesn’t do it for me.”

Portnoy is not alone. LSU is reportedly preparing a $90 million contract for Kiffin — along with $25 million annually in NIL roster investment, essentially a promise to turbocharge recruiting and retain top-tier talent. That kind of financial and institutional commitment is almost unmatched in college football.

And unlike Florida, LSU has the recent résumé: national titles in 2003, 2007, and 2019; a talent pipeline unmatched in the SEC; and a fanbase that sells out Tiger Stadium even in down years.

In Portnoy’s eyes, it’s a slam dunk.

McAfee: “You’re Allowed to Be Happy, Brother.”

But over on ESPN’s College GameDay, Pat McAfee — never afraid to go against the grain — offered a very different perspective.

“It’s quite a quagmire,” McAfee said while discussing Kiffin’s dilemma. “But Lane Kiffin is allowed to be happy and content, brother. You’re allowed to be at a place and have massive success. You’re allowed to build a place from scratch. You’re allowed to become a GOAT at a place.”

McAfee pointed to the cautionary tale of Rich Rodriguez, who left West Virginia for Michigan only to see his career unravel.

“If he would have never left, that guy probably has the entire university named after him,” McAfee said.

To McAfee, the grass isn’t always greener — even when the offer is $90 million.

Ole Miss Still Has Its Case

While LSU boasts tradition, talent, and deep-pocketed boosters, Ole Miss has something the bluebloods sometimes lack: stability, comfort, and full program autonomy.

McAfee was adamant.

“Ole Miss is awesome,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of great players who can play another year. Lane’s done a fantastic job.”

And, McAfee noted, Kiffin’s personal life matters too — something fans often overlook when discussing megadeals and conference prestige.

“Lane’s got 6am yoga, non-negotiable,” McAfee joked. “He plays pickleball. His boy, Knox Kiffin, just won by 10 last night in the playoffs. Life is good… you’re allowed to be happy dude.”

The Decision: Legacy vs. Comfort

So what should Lane Kiffin do?

LSU offers:

• A $90M deal

• $25M NIL war chest

• A championship-ready roster

• A fanbase demanding immediate results

Florida offers:

• A massive rebuild

• Huge upside — if he can survive year one

• A pressure cooker environment

Ole Miss offers:

• Stability

• Support

• A team returning multiple stars

• A place where Kiffin has already built an identity

Dave Portnoy’s view is simple: chase the biggest job.
Pat McAfee’s view is even simpler: chase happiness.

What Lane Kiffin chooses may shape the SEC — and college football — for years to come. A coach with his résumé rarely gets to choose between greatness and comfort.

Now the sport waits, and watches, as one of the most in-demand coaches in America stands at the biggest crossroads of his career.