In a surprising turn of events, former Florida head coach Dan Mullen revealed that he had advised the university to hire Lane Kiffin as his replacement after being let go near the end of the 2021 season. Mullen's recommendation to rush to Oxford and convince Kiffin to leave Ole Miss for the Gators, unfortunately, was not heeded as Billy Napier was ultimately appointed as the new head coach. Since then, the two programs have taken dramatically different paths, with Kiffin's Ole Miss thriving while Napier's Florida has struggled to find success.

The records speak volumes about the impact of the coaching decisions made by Florida and Ole Miss. Under Billy Napier's leadership, the Florida team has amassed a record of 12-16 since the start of the 2022 season, failing to secure a bowl game victory or finish a season ranked. In stark contrast, Lane Kiffin has led Ole Miss to an impressive record of 22-7 during the same period, including a Peach Bowl victory, a top-10 finish in 2023, and their current fifth-place ranking in the AP Poll.

The stark disparity in performance between the two programs has raised questions about the potential of Lane Kiffin taking the reins at Florida. With Napier's position under scrutiny and Kiffin's success at Ole Miss, many are speculating whether Kiffin might consider making the move to Gainesville. Despite the allure of greater resources at Florida, Kiffin's established success at Ole Miss and the opportunity to solidify his legacy make his decision a complex one.