Why I believe Lane Kiffin when he says he plans to coach Ole Miss, not Auburn | Toppmeyer

OXFORD, Miss. – Did I believe him?

I asked myself that question Thursday night as I exited Ole Miss football’s news conference after the No. 20 Rebels lost the Egg Bowl 24-22 to Mississippi State.

Lane Kiffin mostly dodged questions about his future these past few weeks, while speculation brewed that he was a top candidate for Auburn’s vacancy.

Then, Thursday night, Kiffin offered his strongest commitment yet to Ole Miss when said he anticipates being the Rebels’ coach next season – even if Auburn offers him its job.

It’s worth noting, many college football coaches specialize in two things: football and lying. Tommy Tuberville was so good at lying that he decided to make a career out of it and became a politician.

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Usually when people lie, though, they have something to gain from being dishonest or would have something to lose by telling the truth.

I cannot figure out what Kiffin would gain from such unequivocal fibbing Thursday night, after weeks of dodging questions about his future.

So, yes, I believe Kiffin when he says he anticipates being Ole Miss’ coach next season.

Call me naïve. Point and laugh if Auburn announces Kiffin as its next coach within a few days.

That wouldn’t shock me. The coaching carousel has taught us to expect the unexpected and that a coach’s word isn’t worth much.

Still, if Kiffin’s bags are packed, he could have just reiterated his remarks from the past few weeks – that he doesn’t comment on coaching carousel rumblings and he’s generally happy with the Rebels. He could have said he’s focused on preparing Ole Miss for its bowl game, before resurfacing in Auburn in a few days.

What Lane Kiffin said about Ole Miss and Auburn

Instead, he twice said he plans to coach the Rebels next season.

Importantly, he confirmed that remains his plan even if Auburn offers him its job.

Here was the exchange:

Question: Do you anticipate being Ole Miss’ coach next season?

Kiffin: “Yes, I do.”

Follow-up question: If Auburn offers you its coaching position, do you anticipate being Ole Miss’ coach next season?

Kiffin: “I do.”

Did I expect Kiffin to answer “no” to either of these questions? Of course not. I expected him to be evasive, like he’d been. He wasn’t.

If Kiffin were going to fib, why not do that weeks ago? At that point, his team would have had something to gain from his lying. Denying interest in Auburn and swearing allegiance to Ole Miss may have reassured his team.

Instead, the rumblings built to a crescendo this past week.

So, why be deceitful now, after the regular season is finished, when Ole Miss’ next game is not for several weeks, and when Kiffin would seem to have nothing to gain from lying?

I can think of no reason for Kiffin to pivot and offer this stronger verbal commitment to Ole Miss unless he really plans to stay.

And, yes, Rebels fans, Kiffin staying would be good news for your program.

Lane Kiffin remaining at Ole Miss would be a win for the Rebels

I understand why some fans feel fed up with Kiffin after all this. Ole Miss feverishly worked to retain him with a contract extension, but he dragged this out.

To be fair to Kiffin, a smart businessman doesn’t sign an offer until he knows what the other side is offering or what else may come open in the coming days. Slow-playing until all cards are on the table makes sound business sense.

But Rebels fans are miffed about Ole Miss losing four of its final five games, including the all-important Egg Bowl, while questions about Kiffin's future lingered.

After cool heads prevail, realize this: Kiffin remains a quality coach with an exciting offense and a good touch with quarterbacks. His securing of several talented transfers positioned Ole Miss to win eight games, in what otherwise should have been a rebuilding season. He’s 23-12 at Ole Miss. His winning percentage trails only John Vaught among Ole Miss coaches in the modern era. He joins Vaught and Hugh Freeze as the only coaches to lead Ole Miss to three consecutive bowl bids.

Kiffin is a good football coach – a better football coach than Ole Miss is accustomed to. Yes, the Lane Train is an unpredictable ride, and he jumped the rails on Twitter this week.

And, yes, so long as Ole Miss employs Kiffin, he’ll be the subject of regular speculation when the coaching carousel begins to spin. If Kiffin stays, expect to do this again in 2023. That beats the alternative of employing a coach no one else wants.

I don’t buy that Kiffin’s hazy future caused the Rebels’ limp to the finish.

Ole Miss didn’t lose the Egg Bowl because it lacked effort or quit on its coach. To the contrary, the defense, in particular, played inspired. The Rebels lost the Egg Bowl because they floundered in the red zone, and they faded in the second half of the season because the schedule stiffened.

The unmasked truth: This team was never anything special. That shouldn’t come as a shock considering everything Ole Miss lost off last year’s Sugar Bowl team. The Rebels’ best victory came against Kentucky (6-5) – the same Kentucky that later lost to Vanderbilt.

Kiffin recently offered optimism for next season. Importantly, quarterback Jaxson Dart is set to return. Matt Corral flourished in his second season starting for Kiffin.

“A lot of good guys (are) coming back,” Kiffin said earlier this week. “Very excited about the future.”

An Ole Miss future that, I think, will include Kiffin.

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Lane Kiffin says he wants Ole Miss football over Auburn. I believe him