Florida and LSU are both looking for a new coach for their respective football programs, and, as in 2021, the two programs seem intertwined in their coaching searches. The last time both schools went coach hunting, LSU outmaneuvered Florida and landed the far better candidate while simultaneously driving up the price on Florida.
And given how the on-field series has gone the past decade, combined with what happened in the respective 2021 searches, Florida now has a golden opportunity to flip the script on the Tigers for good.
Florida and LSU on Lane Kiffin watch
When Scott Stricklin and Florida settled on Billy Napier back in 2021, the issue wasn't simply the fact that they settled on Billy Napier; it was the ridiculous contract they doled out with no safeguards if things went south.
But part of why Florida felt pressured to give Napier a seven-year deal when almost everyone else from that hiring cycle got five or six-year deals was the looming "threat" of LSU. Napier was in their backyard at the time, and the Tigers could have easily grabbed Napier themselves if they wanted.
But Florida's paranoia wasn't real, and LSU was never getting Napier because they had their eyes on something bigger. And while Brian Kelly didn't work out, it wasn't the dumpster fire we've had in Gainesville for the past four years.
We bring this up because, once again, Florida and LSU are at a crossroads in their coaching searches.
Reports surfaced yesterday that representatives from Lane Kiffin's camp were in both Gainesville and Baton Rouge to scope out the respective areas. While Florida's pursuit of Kiffin has been loud and public, we hadn't heard much from LSU publicly about trying to get Kiffin.
The general consensus is that the smoke from LSU is just that, smoke; much like any smoke about Napier in 2021 wasn't real.
But this time around, if the smoke isn't real, it isn't from a lack of interest from LSU. Betting odds currently favor Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham to make the leap and become the next LSU coach. And while we like Dillingham and think he has a bright future ahead of him, we would have to imagine that, given the choice, most Tiger fans would choose Kiffin over Dillingham.
Hence, why Florida landing Kiffin ahead of a conference rival that checks a ton of the boxes that Kiffin is looking for would be a massive moment to flip the script on LSU.