Kiffin: Not No. 1 guy at Auburn

After the University of Arkansas beat Ole Miss 41-27, Rebels Coach Lane Kiffin again was asked about speculation that he’s the No. 1 candidate to be Auburn’s next coach.

“I don’t know that stuff out there — No. 1 stuff,” Kiffin said.

“Maybe if they watched the first half

I wouldn’t be

No. 1 anymore then.”

The Razorbacks led 35-6 at halftime and scored a touchdown on their first possession of the third quarter to extend their lead to 42-6.

While Kiffin fell to 1-2 against Arkansas, his overall record in three years at Ole Miss is 23-11, including 18-6 since 2021 and 8-3 this season with a No. 20 ranking in the latest College Football Playoff poll.

“Very happy here and appreciative of the leadership here,” Kiffin said. “I love being here. There’s a lot of people coming back [next season], a lot of good guys coming back. Very excited about the future.”

The SEC Network broadcasting crew of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic discussed during the Arkansas-Ole Miss game which Rebels might follow Kiffin to Auburn if he switches jobs.

That prompted more questions for Kiffin about the Auburn job when he met with the media in Oxford this week.

“I mean, I don’t know what else to say,” Kiffin said. “I’m extremely happy here..

“I can get up here and give you whatever it was— the ‘Pine Box’ speech — and, ‘I’m not going to be the next head coach at Alabama.’ “

When it was speculated during the 1998 season that Ole Miss Coach Tommy Tuberville would leave to take the Auburn job, the Arkansas native said, “They’ll have to carry me out of here in a pine box.”

A few days later Tuberville — now a U.S. senator for the state of Alabama — was hired at Auburn.

When speculation continued to swirl during the 2006 season that Nick Saban would leave the Miami Dolphins to take the Alabama job, he became frustrated.

“I guess I have to say it — I’m not going to be the Alabama coach,” Saban said.

After the season he resigned at Miami and is now in his 16th season as Alabama’s coach.

Kiffin got a raise after last season to $7.25 million and there are reports Ole Miss has offered another salary increase.

“I’ve been here three years and been fortunate enough to have three different contracts,” Kiffin said. “So I don’t know why all of a sudden a fourth contract makes people feel better.”

Kiffin said in answer to a question that players don’t ask him about speculation he’ll leave for another job.

“They know how we do things here,” Kiffin said. “The pro mindset of preparing each day to get better and win.”

Kiffin said that on Monday, but he met with the players on Tuesday to tell them he hasn’t been offered another job, according to a report by ESPN.com’s Chris Low.

“Kiffin as a rule doesn’t respond to coaching rumors, but sources told ESPN that he felt as if he owed it to his players and their parents to formally address the situation,” Low wrote, after WCBI-TV in Columbus, Miss., reported Kiffin would resign after the Mississippi State game and take the Auburn job.

“He told the players his focus was on Mississippi State and nothing else and that any reports out there about his accepting another offer were totally false,” Low wrote, citing sources.