The Lane Kiffin watch continues with more murky updates from Pete Thamel

Shortly after Friday's Egg Bowl, we will know something. So much has been made about the coaching prospects for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. He has the Rebels ranked at No. 6 in the country at 10-1 (6-1). With only arch rival Mississippi State left on the schedule, a win in the Egg Bowl should get an 11-1 (7-1) Rebels team into the College Football Playoff for the very first time in program history.

Of course, Kiffin is about to be a fabulously wealthy. He is the supposed best coaching candidate in this cycle. He could stay at Ole Miss, or potentially leave for another SEC school. He is still reportedly in the mix to replace either Billy Napier at Florida or Brian Kelly at LSU. Kiffin has Floridian ties from his days leading Florida Atlantic. LSU is one of the best rivals Ole Miss, as they play in the Magnolia Bowl.

During Saturday morning's edition of ESPN College GameDay, Pete Thamel shared the very latest...

What Pete Thamel had to say about the Lane Kiffin coaching search

Thamel spent about a minute explaining where things are at with Kiffin heading into the Egg Bowl.

"One short week from today, we should get an answer on Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter released a statement yesterday, saying the day after Friday's Egg Bowl, there will be clarity on Kiffin."

The big key here is LSU seems way more likely to get Kiffin to flip from Ole Miss than Florida is now.

"The people closest to Lane Kiffin say they genuinely have no idea what he is going to do. The main competition for Ole Miss retaining Kiffin appears to be LSU right now. Florida has cast a wide search. They talked to multiple candidates face-to-face. LSU is focused in solely on Kiffin. Florida certainly still in the mix, but right now, it appears that LSU and Ole Miss is the decision that Kiffin is facing."

Most importantly, Kiffin is going to make top-of-the-market money at any place he chooses to work.

"Finally, he will get paid no matter where he goes. Ole Miss has made it clear they won't get outbid for Kiffin's services. LSU is ready to step up to the plate. Look for him to be among the highest paid coaches in the sport when this ends, wherever he goes. Kirby Smart makes about $13 million. Kiffin will be in that neighborhood."

Here is everything Thamel had to say on the Kiffin coaching sweepstakes from Eugene on Saturday.

Let's now unpack all that Thamel had to say and what this means for a program such as Florida here.

What the latest Lane Kiffin coaching intel means for a program like Florida

Even though Florida is not going to give up in its pursuit of Kiffin, the Gators are going to be the program that blinks first. This is because they have eyes on other candidates as well. Whether it ends up being Eliah Drinkwitz, Alex Golesh or Jon Sumrall remains to be seen. LSU seems to only have eyes for Kiffin. If they do not get him to flip, then the Tigers will have to go in another direction fast.

As for Ole Miss, the Rebels should try to take it one day at a time. Just win the Egg Bowl and a trip to the College Football Playoff will be yours. One would think that Kiffin would be allowed to coach in the College Football Playoff for as long as the Rebels are still in it before potentially leaving for another job. Truth be told, if Ole Miss wins the Egg Bowl, it would be insanely hard for him to leave Oxford now.

Ultimately, Florida is probably going to finish third in the Kiffin sweepstakes because Ole Miss is one win away from the playoff and LSU has not honestly pursued another candidate. Frankly, Florida is in a good spot to get someone good, it just may not be Kiffin. Putting their money where their mouth is makes this job look considerably more attractive, beyond DJ Lagway, and just being inside of Florida.

As it is with everything, expect for the unexpected to happen, simply because Kiffin is involved here.