The Ole Miss fans are growing confident with each passing day about Lane Kiffin staying put in Oxford. The Rebels being a Top 10 team in the initial CFP rankings further bolstered that confidence.
Agreed that Kiffin's verbal ambiguity and delaying a contract extension are points of contention, but they're not enough to believe he has a move in mind.
USA Today's Paul Meyerberg believes Kiffin would be the top candidate to take over the Florida Gators. Still, he doesn't deny the very strong possibility of him not choosing Gainesville over Oxford.
Since that is looking more and more like it, Meyerberg floated another name that would be the perfect fit, or more specifically, the closest fit for Florida besides Kiffin.
Mizzou HC Eli Drinkwitz is Florida's best bet
"If Kiffin does stay put, look for Florida to pivot to Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz," Meyerberg wrote.
"He shares many of same traits that have made Kiffin the hottest name in this year’s coaching cycle and has the personality to handle the pressures of the position."
These are the same traits that Steve Spurrier had, and the same traits that Kiffin inculcated in his coaching style from his idol.
The mere picture of Kiffin aggressively speaking on the visor during games was the selling point for the Florida fans' desperation. They saw a splitting image of Spurrier in that which flashed a spark of hope that he could revive their program after all these years.
While Drinkwitz might not be as close a replica of that image as Kiffin, he could be the safest bet the Gators could make.
That is, after Kiffin signs his contract extension with Ole Miss. Until then, they would still have the hope of him remotely considering moving to Florida.