The Daily Stakes - 11/3

We’re back after a few days off. The national media does not really have a grasp on the story beyond the players, so in lieu of sounding like a broken record, let’s tap into the rumor mill. It has been burning hot in both Gainesville and Oxford the last several days. Rumors in bold. Comments follow.

Lane has a Florida offer on the table.

True. Most definitely.

Lane has an Ole Miss offer on the table.

True. Absolutely.

The Florida offer is $16m (or $20m) per year.

False. It’s likely in the range of $12.5 - $13.5m. Bonuses might take it to $16m.

Ole Miss can’t match Florida on contract dollars and years.

False. Ole Miss will certainly match whatever dollar figure Florida throws out. And while there are some legal limitations to the length of state contracts in Mississippi, the University has gotten around that in the past by contracting with the private Ole Miss Athletic Foundation.

Ole Miss has offered a ten-year extension to Kiffin.

Maybe. The current contract term is six years. There was belief prior to the season, it would go to eight with the next extension. Ten isn’t out of the question.

Ole Miss and Florida have guaranteed a 100% buyout.

Maybe. His current contract guarantees 80%. I’ve heard Ole Miss has offered to push it to 100% and presumably Florida will follow suit.

Florida wants a commitment now.

True. At least a memorandum of understanding now with an announcement as soon as the season is over.

Ole Miss finds the Florida timeline untenable.

True. But it remains to be seen what exactly they can do to mitigate it.

Kiffin has shut down communication with Ole Miss.

False. He was seen with Keith Carter on Saturday. He has not signed an offered extension. The folks in Oxford are naturally spooked by this.

Ole Miss is vetting potential coaches.

True. Whether out of precaution or necessity, they are.

Kiffin’s family prefers to stay in Oxford.

True. But they’ll also move if asked to do so.

Lane is waiting for the Miami Dolphins or Florida State jobs to open.

Maybe in the sense that he wants to know what all of the options are.

LSU is out of the KiffyStakes race.

Maybe. Things have gone a little quiet in Baton Rouge. Some of that is likely an intentional “reset” due to the governor being so loud last week. The Tigers do appear to be a distant third at best.

Auburn will be a player.

False. Just don’t see it happening, although their fans are pushing for it.