Everything is pointing down one Lane

Lane Kiffin is the key to the entire coaching carousel in this latest cycle.

Should he stay at Ole Miss or go to Florida?

That decision seems to be THE decision that will trigger a widespread series of moves or completely open the vacancy-filling options to others.

Make no mistake, with the Gators firing Billy Napier after he won – yes, WON – his backdoor, administrative pre-determined swan song in the Swamp on Saturday to, um, “highlight” Week 8 of the 2025 college football season, there are plenty of gigs to apply to, interview for and accept or pass on.

Currently, there are seven FBS head coaching positions with no “permanent” personnel in them: Stanford, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Arkansas Penn State and, of course, Florida.

It was less than two weeks ago that Penn State relieved James Franklin of his duties, triggering a deluge of projections and publications proclaiming who either should or would replace him in Happy Valley. Then the hammer came down on Napier in Gainesville and the main talking point now is whether Penn State is even the top opening.

Hint: It isn’t.

Florida is.

Which is why the sheer irony that Franklin could wind up there, especially if Kiffin turns down the Gators’ overtures, tickles me so.

That being shared, here’s one take on what may happen in the coming weeks and months with the seven openings:

Florida – Kiffin will be offered the job, if he hasn’t been already. He will be tempted to take it, but he’s a changed man from his earlier coaching days when he was on the prowl to keep moving up the status chain. He got burned by leaving Tennessee for Southern Cal, and that weighs heavily on his mind. So, too, does the great situation he’s in at Oxford, which includes his kids from a failed marriage living with him. Franklin also will be offered the job and tempted to take it. But he’s going to hold out for another high-profile job in the Sunshine State, fully confident (for good reason) that Mike Norvell will be let go at Florida State, which would be conveniently located just more than a two-hour drive from his home in picture-perfect, pristine-clean Destin. Instead, in a shocking move, Gators AD Scott Stricklin and Co. manage to convince Dabo Swinney that his time in Clemson has run its course, and that Florida is the right place for him to get back on track for another national title … before Tigers fans run him out of upstate South Carolina.

Penn State – Conspiracy theories ran rampant right after Franklin’s ouster, the primary one being that Adidas, the Nittany Lions’ new outfitter for the next 10 years, starting in 2026, was calling the shots on both the firing of Franklin and the hiring of PSU’s next HC. With that, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm likely would be offered … and just as likely to turn it down to remain at his alma mater. Honestly, the secondary conspiracy theory gets my attention more. That being proud PSU alum Terry Pegula, who just happens to be the billionaire owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and whose last name adorns the ice hockey arena at PSU because he paid for it, was calling the shots. Makes more sense to me than Adidas doing so. That being the case, mark down current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, a one-time PSU football graduate assistant, as the guy to take over the Lions.

Oklahoma State – This is considered the third-best job that is open. Don’t see it, to be honest. It’s a good job, but Virginia Tech is better and Arkansas may be. Matt Campbell will be discussed as the “obvious” choice. Which seems strange since he’s made where he currently coaches – Iowa State – a better job. This seems more ‘right” for a high-profile coordinator from a high-profile program. Pencil in Ohio State OC Brian Hartline here but make sure the eraser is usable.

Virginia Tech – Franklin gets antsy waiting for Florida State to open, and “settles” for the Hokies’ gig. The move will turn out to be a brilliant one, if only by happenstance, as the ACC, with Clemson fading (especially after Dabo’s departure), becomes a free-for-all at the top … and Franklin’s chances to succeed in that type of scenario, with his recruiting chops and the recruiting base at his fingertips, well, watch out.

Arkansas – Tulane’s Jon Sumrall will be the “hot” name for this opening, but, ultimately, the Razorbacks finally choose to board the Gus (Malzahn) Bus. Arkansas hemmed and hawed a generation ago with making its one-time OC the HC after dropping Houston Nutt and then a few years later after canning Bobby Petrino, who ironically is the interim HC there now and in the running for the permanent job, but now makes it right by bringing the former Arkansas high school coaching legend and current Florida OC home.

Stanford – Got two Northwestern guys in mind here: former Wildcats HC (and standout LB) Pat Fitzgerald and one of his former players, Mike Kafka, who QB’d Fitzgerald’s 2009 team to an 8-4 record and Outback Bowl berth and is now the New York Giants OC. Both would have a great understanding of what it takes to win with a program that places a value on academics as high as athletics.

UCLA – Deion Sanders in LA just sounds too good to be true. Book it and let the Hollywood script writers have a field day. Sorry, Jerry Neuheisel fans.

GAME OF WEEK 8

Sporting uniforms that appeared to be dusted off from the tough-as-nails Frank Kush era in the Valley of the Sun, Arizona State stunned No. 7 Texas Tech, 26-22, on Saturday but only after it had blown a 12-point lead in the final 4 minutes.

Up 19-7 and cruising, the Sun Devils collapsed late in the fourth quarter, giving up a touchdown with 3:45 to go, going three-and-out on the ensuing possession and then surrendering a long punt return that set up the Red Raiders’ go-ahead score AND 2-point conversion with 2:00 to go.

At that point, ASU QB Sam Leavitt engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by Raleek Brown’s 1-yard TD run, to seal the victory with 33 seconds remaining.

The result got the 5-2 Devils back in the polls at No. 24 and dropped Tech to No. 14.

UNI WATCH

Gotta say, not a fan of the bizarre gradient numbers on Maryland’s throwback to Boomer Esiason attire, but aside from that, wow, are the Terrapins looking sharp these days. Their retro 1980s red-white-red unis with scripted "Terps" on the helmet blew away UCLA’s overrated gear last Saturday (but couldn’t help the Terps overcome the suddenly hot Bruins on the field).

It was good to see some old-school classic matchups last weekend, too, Southern Cal at Notre Dame for starters (both going the traditional route). But enjoyed getting a long-forgotten Big East vibe from Pittsburgh at Syracuse (both retro traditional) even more.

It’s almost sad to see how bad Florida State is playing. The Seminoles lost again on Saturday night, this time 20-13 at Stanford, but looked stellar in gold-white-garnet. (Stanford, please ditch the ridiculously small ode to Jim Plunkett "S" on the helmet.)

HEISMAN HYPE

Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame RB – Even though he had four total TDs in a blowout win at Arkansas back in the September, Saturday’s 228-yard, 1-TD rushing effort on 24 carries in a win over USC that included a 63-yard run was the uber-hyped Irish star’s first real BIG game of the season. He looked electric, as did backfield mate Jadarian Price.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State QB – Completed 36 of 42 passes for 394 yards and 4 TDs in a blowout win at Wisconsin. The upgrade at the position by the defending national champion Buckeyes is amazing.

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana QB – Completed 24 of 28 passes for 332 yards and 4 TDs in a blowout win vs. Michigan State. The Heisman really may come down to who is deemed the best QB in the Big Ten.

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M QB – In rounding out our triumvirate of signal-callers for the top 3 teams in the country, he went 23 of 32 passing for 280 yards and 3 TDs. He also ran 6 times for 55 yards and a score in barely getting out of Arkansas with a victory.