Nov 15, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin stands on the sideline during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Ole Miss is in the midst of its best season in more than half a century, and it has already essentially locked up a playoff bid. But with just one game remaining in the Rebels' season, all the focus has been on coach Lane Kiffin and his future at Ole Miss.

Kiffin's name has come up as a top target in both the LSU and Florida coaching searches, and moves that had been made behind the scenes finally became public on Monday when reports surfaced that Kiffin's family members had visited Gainesville on Sunday and Baton Rouge on Monday.

Amid speculation about Kiffin leaving for another job, he made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday. Though he wasn't asked about the reports of his family making trips to see other campuses, he did provide one interesting morsel: Per Kiffin, Ole Miss has given him no ultimatum to make a decision.

On3 also reported on Monday that the school's administration had given him a deadline of the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State on Thanksgiving weekend to decide what he's going to do. According to Kiffin, that ultimatum was fiction.

"Yeah, that's absolutely not true," Kiffin said. "There has been no ultimatum, anything like that at all. And so I don't know where that came from, like a lot of stuff that comes out there. Like I said, man, we're having a blast. I love it here."

Whether Kiffin is being straightforward remains to be seen, but reporting from ESPN's Mark Schlabach somewhat refutes his claim. Per Schlabach, Ole Miss hasn't exactly given Kiffin an ultimatum but has put pressure on him to decide by this weekend.

However, sources told ESPN on Tuesday that Ole Miss officials are pressing Kiffin and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, for a resolution. Athletic director Keith Carter has asked for Kiffin to reach a decision by this upcoming weekend, sources said.

The sources stopped short of calling it an ultimatum, but they added that Carter and others want an answer so they can prepare for the postseason, a potential coaching transition before the CFP and a search to identify Kiffin's replacement if he leaves.

The Rebels are on bye this week after their 34-24 win over Florida and will return to the field when they travel to face Mississippi State in Starkville on Black Friday. Whether Kiffin is still on the sidelines for that game, only time will tell.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Lane Kiffin denies Ole Miss has given him an ultimatum about other jobs

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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