Ole Miss’ head coach Lane Kiffin’s public links with LSU and other programs have garnered a lot of attention lately. Penn State, according to CFB analyst Josh Pate, has ‘zeroed in’ on their next head coach target. This comes after the Nittany Lions fired their long-term head coach, James Franklin, last month, and they have been on the search ever since.
Josh Pate on X, whilst answering a few fan questions about the college football coaching-musical chairs situation, had this to say:
“I do think Penn State has zeroed in on their guy in recent days. I don’t expect Kalen DeBoer to be involved”, Pate wrote on X.
Whilst Kiffin has been linked to multiple programs like LSU, Florida and Penn State, it will be interesting to see if he renegotiates a contract at Ole Miss. However, Pate has also denied Kalen De Boer’s involvement in the Penn State coaching race, which is considerably surprising as DeBoer is reportedly a top target for the Nittany Lions.
Jon Sauber, the Penn State beat reporter for The Centre Daily Times, during an appearance on Tide 100.9’s The Game with Ryan Fowler, has maintained that DeBoer has been a priority target “from the beginning.”
The Centre Daily Times’ Penn State beat reporter, Jon Sauber says Kalen DeBoer has become a top target for Penn State in their search for a new head coach.
via: Tide 100.9’s ‘The Game’ with Ryan Fowlerhttps://t.co/44GKqZ4mw5 pic.twitter.com/En3RM6lxWX
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) November 20, 2025
Nittany Lions’ aspirations were initially deemed a “little bit pie in the sky.” However, Alabama’s close call with South Carolina and, more significantly, their loss to Oklahoma, have “nudged the door open a little bit,” according to Sauber.
Meanwhile, 53-year-old James Franklin has signed a five-year contract with Virginia Tech following his dismissal from Penn State last month.
After the firing of Tech’s previous head coach, Brent Pry, they have also reportedly pledged to invest $229 million over the next four years as part of reviving their athletics and football programs.
DeBoer Sits Securely With Contract Through 2031, Kiffin Continues Being Pursued By LSU And Florida
DeBoer is currently in one of the most lucrative coaching positions in the country as his eight-year, $87 million contract runs through 2031, with a payout of over $10 million in 2025 alone.
Should he voluntarily leave, the buyout owed to Alabama is a manageable $4 million in 2025.
Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin’s situation is also extremely complicated. Ole Miss is being linked to the LSU opening, whilst Florida is also reportedly vying to sign Kiffin.
Pete Nakos of On3 Sports reported that the Florida Gators and Lane Kiffin will have a sit-down this Friday as LSU continue to poach the Ole Miss head coach, too.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss to meet Friday as Florida, LSU pursue coach
Intel: https://t.co/29EpyPIZPR pic.twitter.com/ZLVk1diAtP
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) November 21, 2025
Kiffin signed a six-year contract extension back in 2023, which is reportedly worth $54 million with an add-on component of $9 million contingent on Ole Miss’ seven wins in a season.
Read More:
- Insider Claims Lane Kiffin’s Uncertainty On Contract Extension Can Cause Rift With Ole Miss Despite “Image Rehabilitation” With Rebels
- Analysts Put Mississippi Government Official On Blast For Making Lane Kiffin Feel “Ungrateful” Amid NFL Head Coaching Rumors
- “Handed Him a Used Rolls Royce”: Colin Cowherd Minces No Words on Hardships Behind Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Takeover From Nick Saban
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
