As Lane Kiffin flirted with several programs late last week before ultimately choosing LSU, the rest of the SEC coaching landscape began to shake behind closed doors. For a time, Auburn and Arkansas thought they were set. However, a single conversation, unrelated to Ole Miss, sent the entire carousel spiraling.
Expectations for this potentially record-breaking season were high, but the rapid changes near the end of the last week caught many influential figures off guard, as reported by CBS Sports.
Yes, Kiffin’s dramatic movements between Ole Miss and LSU set the stage, but it wasn’t the twist that moved multiple coaches unexpectedly into new positions just a week prior.
The shift became apparent on Saturday.
Several schools may be turning to Option B, C or D on the coaching carousel Sunday.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) November 29, 2025
The actual change began midweek when Alex Golesh of South Florida looked poised to take an offer from Arkansas. As discussions progressed, they seemed close to finalizing a deal. However, as the week went on, Florida felt the climate shifting in their search. Kiffin’s inconsistent communication led Gators’ leaders to believe he was no longer interested, prompting them to explore candidates already known to them.
Simultaneously, Auburn faced delays in their pursuit of Jon Sumrall. Despite ongoing discussions and even a meeting in New Orleans, complications arose regarding job specifics and staffing. Eventually, communication ceased by Thursday night, pushing Auburn to consider interim coach DJ Durkin or Golesh, who had become the front-runner at Arkansas.
Yet Golesh’s team hesitated regarding Arkansas, leading the Razorbacks to revisit candidates like Ryan Silverfield and Kane Wommack of Alabama.
As the discussions unraveled, Auburn was weighing its options: promote Durkin or entice Golesh with a lucrative deal that exceeded Arkansas’s initial offer. An anticipated win in the Iron Bowl appeared to validate Durkin’s promotion chances, but after a loss, Auburn’s situation became even more uncertain.
By that time, Florida seemed decisive on hiring Sumrall, with expectations for an announcement on Sunday. Nevertheless, questions lingered: could Kiffin’s surprise decision to remain at Ole Miss reroute LSU’s interest back to Sumrall?
By Saturday night, sources believed Kiffin’s tenure at Ole Miss was ending, even amidst backend complications suggesting he may not return to LSU.*
And with these developments, the entire coaching landscape shifted dramatically, leaving Auburn and Florida on uncertain paths, with multiple programs impacted within an incredibly short window of time.
