In a dramatic turn of events this Thursday, the Ole Miss Rebels football team and their former head coach, Lane Kiffin, moved decisively past their recent acrimonious split. While Kiffin was being celebrated at his new home in Baton Rouge, his former players secured a historic victory eighty miles away in New Orleans.
A Night of Dramatic Twists on and off the Field
The Ole Miss Rebels, now led by interim coach Pete Golding, delivered a stunning performance in the Sugar Bowl against the No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. The game was decided by a last-minute kick, propelling the Rebels to a 39-34 victory after a final safety. This win improves their remarkable season record to 13-1 and books their place in the College Football Playoff semifinals. They are now set to face No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 in Glendale, Arizona.
Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge, Lane Kiffin was making his first major public appearance since his controversial departure from Oxford. Kiffin, who famously left Ole Miss on November 30 to accept a seven-year, $91 million deal with SEC rivals LSU, was a guest of honour at a women's basketball game. He was introduced to the crowd by LSU's Lady Tigers coach, Kim Mulkey, walking onto the court hand-in-hand to a shower of applause from Tigers fans.
The Fallout from a High-Profile Departure
Kiffin's exit, which came as Ole Miss was preparing for its first-ever College Football Playoff berth, caused significant uproar. The 50-year-old coach had expressed a desire to lead the Rebels throughout the postseason but was denied that opportunity by the university. He has since become persona non grata in Oxford, Mississippi.
His replacement, former defensive coordinator Pete Golding, has steered the team through the controversy, securing a first-round CFP victory over Tulane and now the monumental Sugar Bowl win. Rumours swirled that Kiffin might attend the New Orleans game, with reports suggesting he hoped to appear on ESPN's broadcast. However, the network was reportedly reluctant, and Kiffin ultimately remained in Louisiana.
Financial Backing and Future Prospects
The financial motivations behind Kiffin's move are clear. While he earned a reported $9 million per season at Ole Miss, his new contract with LSU averages $13 million annually. Crucially, the deal includes assurances that the Tigers will have the financial resources to compete for top talent, especially with the college football transfer portal reopening.
Kiffin, the son of late NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, takes over from Brian Kelly, who was fired after failing to reach the College Football Playoff in his three seasons at LSU. As the Rebels prepare for their semifinal clash, the starkly different paths of the team and their ex-coach underscore the high-stakes, big-business nature of modern college football.
