Ole Miss reveals major Lane Kiffin update as Florida stays involved

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter went public Friday afternoon, posting a lengthy statement on social media addressing the growing noise around Lane Kiffin's future.

And while the message was clearly written for Rebel fans ahead of next week's Egg Bowl, Florida football fans are tracking very closely to what was said.

In his statement, Carter acknowledged that he and Kiffin have held "many pointed and positive conversations" about the coach's future and confirmed that another meeting took place earlier in the day with university leadership. He emphasized that Ole Miss is focused on protecting what he called a "historic" season, adding that players and coaches must be allowed to concentrate fully on next week's game.

But the part Florida Gators fans should be zeroing in on came at the end: "An announcement on Coach Kiffin's future is expected the Saturday following the game."

That's the clearest public timetable Ole Miss has offered. Carter's statement didn't quiet anything. If anything, it turned up the volume.

Carter focused on unity, legacy and the importance of supporting a program "on the cusp of an unprecedented season." That's exactly the kind of language an athletic director uses when trying to keep a coach who's being pushed hard by other programs like Florida and LSU.

Is Ole Miss bracing to keep Kiffin or preparing to say goodbye?

Whether Kiffin has already made up his mind is unknown. He may very well be settled on a decision, even if it hasn't been communicated publicly. But Carter established a timeline for Ole Miss, a point in the near future when the school wants absolute clarity.

That puts the urgency on Ole Miss' end, even if Kiffin himself isn't feeling any pressure at all.

For Florida and LSU fans, that means the next seven days are about to get even louder.

Florida is fully engaged in its coaching search. They're holding meetings, evaluating candidates and beginning formal conversations. Now all that's left is the wait, and in this coaching carousel, the silence might be the loudest part.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Ole Miss reveals key Lane Kiffin update as Florida football eyes move