By Evan MasseyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Ole Miss Rebels are going to be looking for a new head football coach following the news of Lane Kiffin's decision to leave to become the next head coach of the LSU Tigers. It's a crushing blow for a program that has become a legitimate national championship contender under Kiffin's watch.
Now, the question becomes, who could Ole Miss target to replace Kiffin?
Quite a few names are going to be brought up as potential candidates. Among those names could be Jon Sumrall, Matt Campbell, Joe Judge, and plenty of others. However, is it possible that Deion Sanders could be a candidate?
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Sanders has not had a good season with the Colorado Buffaloes following the departure of both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. But, he is one of the biggest names in college football and is a brand in and of himself.
...Brian Schaible of The Sporting News has linked the Rebels and Sanders as a potential fit, although it does seem to be a fairly unlikely fit.
"If Deion ever lands in the SEC, Ole Miss is the most realistic fit," Schaible wrote. "Sanders wants autonomy and administrative flexibility, which Oxford can offer. His arrival would bring instant national attention, major portal movement and a recruiting surge. It is bold, risky and potentially program-altering."
To replace Kiffin, Ole Miss is going to have to be bold and aggressive. Kiffin is not the kind of head coach that can simply be replaced by a young head coach looking to carve out his college football path.
Would Sanders be the guy to keep the Rebels in championship contention? Possibly not, but playing for a legend like Sanders has done well for him as a recruiting tactic. Being given the amount of resources that Ole Miss could give him would help even more.
Read more: Penn State Has Elite Candidate Emerging as Favorite in Coaching Search
As a college football head coach with Jackson State and Colorado across six season, Sanders has compiled a 43-27 record. He hasn't been an elite head coach, but he has become one of the most talked about names in the sport.
It's important to know that Sanders becoming the next head coach for the Rebels would be a complete shock. This scenario is extremely unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
Expect to hear a lot more about the Ole Miss coaching search in the coming days as the program looks to bounce back from Kiffin leaving town.
For more on the Ole Miss Rebels and college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.
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