Amid a lost season — one in which the Gators lost their head coach en route to a 3-6 record — a frenzy of rumors have circulated. The largest relevant questions surround the transfer portal and UF’s decision for its next coaching candidate.
With the Gators having fired head coach Billy Napier Oct. 19, one coach has emerged as a frontrunner for Florida: Lane Kiffin. Currently filled by interim head coach Billy Gonzales, the Gators’ coaching position could use an offensive mastermind, especially one with success in the Southeastern Conference.
When Gonzales was asked about Kiffin on Monday, he explained that the Ole Miss head coach has been excelling in multiple facets of the game. Kiffin’s offense is top 10 nationally – scoring on just over half of its drives — is top five in keeping a clean pocket and runs an extremely balanced offense, split up by 51% rush and 49% passing plays.
He also said Kiffin’s Rebels “score 68.75% in the middle eight of the drives” — double the FBS average — and praised Ole Miss’ ability to spread the ball around on offense. Finally, Gonzales made sure to highlight the “fantastic job” Kiffin’s defense has done this season.
"He's been an NFL head coach, he's been a college head coach at multiple stops … I think he's a really good football coach,” Gonzales said about Kiffin. “There's a lot of really good football coaches. He is definitely one of them.”
However, when asked if he had mentioned the buzz surrounding Kiffin to his players, Gonzales said he hadn’t and he’d rather his players focus on themselves and the final three games ahead.
“I've not mentioned it to our staff. I've not mentioned it to our players,” Gonzales said. “I'm aware of it, absolutely, but no, we've got to prepare. … We got to take care of ourselves.”
Persistence without exception is a philosophy Gonzales has preached heavily since his installation as interim head coach, and a principle he has worked to instill in all of his players.
Gonzales stood by his decision to keep the noise surrounding Kiffin away from the team and told his players every rep is their résumé, hoping to stress the importance of making constant improvements and putting good film on tape.
“We got a chance to finish with a winning season,” he said. “I think that's one thing that people forget is outside the building, we have a chance to control that. We control our own destiny. So, we can't afford to change the course. We've got to continue to stay the course.”
Florida players, particularly sophomore running back Jadan Baugh, supported Gonzales’ philosophy of staying focused on the remainder of the season and blocking out the outside noise.
Baugh, who is averaging 83 rushing yards per game this season, was adamant the season isn’t over and that there is still work to be done. He said he feels like he is playing well but can perform better because UF continues to lose. Baugh also said the team needs to continue to improve each week and, while he is more concerned with winning a game first, he has his eyes on a 1,000-yard season.
"Personally, I feel like he's done a great job over there at Ole Miss. But I'm worried about what we have going on,” Baugh said about Kiffin. “I haven't looked too much at what they have."
Senior defensive back Devin Moore carried a similar sentiment to Baugh, saying he is focused on finishing out the season the right way. He said the key to staying motivated is his sense of gratitude for UF and the “countless examples of things” the university has done to help him and his family. Moreover, the senior realizes others dream to be in his position and doesn’t take it for granted.
When asked about the rumors surrounding the coaching position, Moore said he ignores them and would rather focus on capturing a win.
“I see it here and there, but I don’t really pay no attention,” Moore said about the Kiffin buzz. ”I’m really just focused on getting better each day and trying to win games … It’s our job to show up every day, work hard and put a good product on the field.”
The Gators need to win out to remain eligible for a bowl game and will look to grab a win against Ole Miss at 7 p.m. Saturday at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is a third-year journalism-sports & media major who currently serves as the football beat reporter for The Alligator, now in his third semester with the paper. When not at his computer screen writing, Curan enjoys spending time outdoors, hanging with friends, family and pets, and watching the Patriots lose (no, he doesn't miss Brady).
