Auburn

Many expected to find out Lane Kiffin’s football coaching future Friday after a meeting with top Ole Miss officials. We at least know what the future apparently holds through the end of next week.

So the white hot speculation in the days leading up to that meeting will not subside just yet, especially since two other Southeastern Conference schools still want Kiffin as their coach and are willing to wait for his answer. Yahoo Sports reported Friday night LSU is looking to make an offer that may include a contract worth at least $90 million and a big money investment in NIL. That report comes after a Thursday meeting between representatives of Kiffin and Florida, according to 247 Sports. Former Mississippi State and current Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin reportedly took part in that meeting.

Also not likely to subside is the grumbling by some fans that Ole Miss is even in such an awkward position in the first place.

Meanwhile, the 10-1 Rebels not only have the Egg Bowl ahead but a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff, which could include an opening round game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

As for AD Keith Carter, he has two challenges to address if Kiffin departs for Baton Rouge, Gainesville or elsewhere:

Choose an interim coach
Choose a permanent replacement

The second challenge would likely be the tougher task since Ole Miss would not be the only school looking for a football coach from the same group of candidates — a group that becomes smaller if Arkansas, Auburn and the Florida/LSU loser make hires before the CFP first round December 19 or 20.

Then again, Carter could find his new coach in Oxford if the interim coach can guide the Rebels to a successful postseason run.

Auburn University has fired head football coach Hugh Freeze after a 10-3 loss to Kentucky at home Saturday.

Below is the formal announcement from the university:

AUBURN, Ala.— Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen announced on Sunday a change in leadership for the Auburn Football program. D.J. Durkin will serve as interim head coach. (NOTE: Durkin served as co-defensive coordinator at Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.)

Statement from Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen

“I have informed Coach Freeze of my decision to make a change in leadership with the Auburn Football program. Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster. Our expectations for Auburn Football are to annually compete for championships and the search for the next leader of Auburn Football begins immediately.”

Freeze later released a statement on X:

Freeze returned to the SEC five years after his 2017 resignation from Ole Miss, which was triggered by the revelation of a phone call made on his university phone to a number connected to an escort service.

He left Oxford with a 39-25 record that included a top 10 finish to the 2015 season with a Sugar Bowl victory. NCAA violations led to 27 of those wins being vacated.

Following four successful seasons at Liberty, Freeze arrived at Auburn with expectations he would return the Tigers to their winning ways.

However, his teams never finished above .500 in his three seasons on the Plains. His overall record coaching the Tigers is 15-19.

With Freeze’s firing, the Southeastern Conference now has four open football coaching jobs: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and LSU.