“Gentlemen and 4 percenters,

Congratulations on making it to game day for Ole Miss and Mississippi State. We'll have complete game coverage here on the site and a watch party and postgame show on MPW Digital's YouTube page. I'll link it here at the appropriate times. Please like and subscribe to the YouTube channel. Thank you for your consideration.

The Lane Kiffin saga reaches another day. I am on the phone with Neal currently while he drives to Starkville for today's game. We are telling you together what we are hearing at this hour. We both were on the phone a good bit yesterday as this prayerfully (maybe) nears conclusion. For some background, we have both heard independently of one another, that Kiffin and Tulane coach Jon Sumrall have spoken on the phone at least once, and possibly more, in the past couple days. Per sources, Sumrall was trying to get a feel for what Kiffin plans to do regarding the upcoming decision. Sumrall, per sources, prefers Ole Miss but absolutely doesn't want to get caught without an SEC position at the end of this cycle. Per sources, Sumrall is concerned that Kiffin will stay with the Rebels at the last second.

Sumrall and Auburn are far down the road, but there is a conflict. Per sources, Auburn talked to DJ Durkin about staying on a Sumrall staff before talking to Sumrall about that possibility. It wasn't a deal-breaker, but it was a red flag. Ironically, sources in Alabama believe if Kane Wommack gets a head gig, Durkin would be the top choice for defensive coordinator with the Tide. An Auburn win on Saturday could vault Durkin into the head job.

Sumrall is also a finalist at Florida, and the Gators are active in this scenario. They've talked multiple times.

Regarding Kiffin, multiple sources close to him yesterday indicate waffling with his decision. Those same sources believe the outcome of today's game could have an impact on his ultimate call, but Neal and I are both aware of how crazy it is that one in-game scenario could theoretically change this level of choice -- and how illogical it is that he's put himself in a position where it would be difficult to come back after a loss. Fairly or not, a loss today would be blamed on him. No matter what you think of CAA and Jimmy Sexton, they take care of their clients. Letting it get to this point is antithetical to their processes. It's where Kiffin's independent choices with PR have brought us here.

That's where we are right now. I'm not sure about timing past that. There will be a lot of national media in Starkville today and at least one national writer plans to be in Oxford on Saturday. Kiffin plans to leave the game and go straight to the north half final between Oxford and Tupelo in Tupelo. Ole Miss plans to make the decision for him if he doesn't decide soon. In what way exactly that happens, I don't know. One source said Kiffin was frustrated at Ole Miss' aggressive pursuit with Sumrall. Ole Miss obviously has every right to run a public search right now.

Some Kiffin family members, per sources, have leaned on him to stay in past days, while others are more eager to get out of town. This is the hard part of doing family sources. We have sources close to family members telling us completely different things. In addition to it being delicate, you end up in a circle. In equal amounts. Kiffin has at least justified leaving to friends in town.

I know everyone wants a definitive answer. There's just not one. I do believe we'll get to finality soon. Ole Miss just needs to win this football game. There is no 100 percent right now in anything related to this outside of the need to win the game.

More when we know it.“

Truly crazy search.