As this is written, Kiffin and Ole Miss are playing their regular season finale, with the Rebels having an outside shot at an SEC Championship berth. With Georgia in the clubhouse at 7-1 and a head-to-head catch on Ole Miss, the Rebels will be out if No. 3 Texas A&M beats No. 16 Texas on Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Even if the Longhorns upset the Aggies, Ole Miss will also need Auburn to upset No. 10 Alabama on Saturday night to clinch a spot in the title game.
Therefore, it is expected that the Kiffin conundrum will reach a solution tomorrow, and Florida hopes that Kiffin will choose between Ole Miss and LSU.
Before kickoff, Kiffin was evasive when ESPN’s Marty Smith asked him about his plans.
“Regarding this game today, it’s potentially 11 wins for the first time in school history. 11 wins for the first time in the entire state by any program in the regular season,” Kiffin said. “There is a lot at stake and our guys are focused and ready to play. The noise thing you mention is nothing new, it has been going on for several weeks.
“I’m watching kickoff in an hour and a half and after that, let’s watch Knox (his son) beat Tupelo at Oxford High School.”
Elsewhere, Sumrall is expected to make a decision on his future on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Ranked 24th in the College Football Playoff rankings, Tulane is in the driver’s seat for the final automatic playoff bid if the Green Wave wins. Tulane will host the American Championship with a win over Charlotte on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU). Navy completed its regular season with a win over Memphis on Thursday night, and North Texas will host Temple on Friday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). If the Mean Green wins, Tulane will be eliminated from conference title and CFP contention with the loss.
So, depending on this weekend’s results, Sumrall could be locked in with Tulane by Dec. 21, or free to join a new program by Sunday.
In addition to Florida, Sumrall has also been the focus of the Auburn search and could be a factor at Ole Miss if that job opens up.
Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lee both have already signed extensions this week to remain with their respective programs, meaning the options are dwindling for whichever of the two programs doesn’t end up with Kiffin or Sumrall between the group of Auburn, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss.
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