5 months ago
- Sports
- Updated: Jan. 02, 2026, 10:42 a.m.
- Published: Jan. 02, 2026, 10:40 a.m.
Ole Miss shot is having its astir historical play successful programme history.
And nan personification who rebuilt nan Rebels from middling SEC loser to nationalist title contender was obscurity to beryllium recovered arsenic Ole Miss stunned rival Georgia, 39-34, to triumph nan Sugar Bowl connected New Year’s Day successful New Orleans.
Instead, erstwhile Ole Miss caput coach Lane Kiffin was located astir an hr distant successful Baton Rouge, Louisiana, astatine nan LSU women’s hoops location game.
Kiffin, who past period ditched Ole Miss mid-season to motion a seven-year, $91 cardinal statement pinch LSU, is undoubtedly rich. But now, arsenic he watches his erstwhile Rebels squad inch person to a nationalist championship, he’s besides undoubtedly sick to his stomach. Kiffin is experiencing a unsocial FOMO that few, if anyone, tin subordinate to.
With its programme grounds 13th triumph of nan play connected Thursday, Ole Miss is 1 triumph distant from an quality successful nan College Football Playoff National Championship connected Jan. 19 successful Miami. Ole Miss hasn’t won a nationalist title since 1960, nan aforesaid twelvemonth John F. Kennedy was elected president.
Kiffin, meanwhile, has ne'er won a nationalist title arsenic a caput coach, and he’s presently missing retired connected what mightiness beryllium nan closest he’ll ever travel to doing so.
In 14 seasons arsenic a caput coach astatine Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss, Kiffin has amassed an awesome 116-53 record, which helped him onshore his $91 cardinal woody astatine LSU. But he’s ne'er won a nationalist championship. Yes, he won a nationalist title while serving arsenic violative coordinator nether Nick Saban astatine Alabama successful 2015, but ne'er arsenic nan caput shot coach.
Kiffin and Ole Miss could person made history together, clinching his first and nan program’s 2nd nationalist championship. Ole Miss winning nan CFP nationalist title would instantly people nan biggest sporting triumph successful nan history of nan authorities of Mississippi. The statement would person apt lasted each year.
Instead, Kiffin chose nan allure of LSU’s Death Valley and, ohio yeah, that full “$91 cardinal successful guaranteed cash” thing. If we’re being honorable pinch ourselves and adjacent to Kiffin, galore of america would person made nan aforesaid decision.
But arsenic 2026 unfolds and nan Rebels hole for their CFP semifinals crippled against Miami connected Jan. 8, 2 things are certain: Kiffin is able beyond belief. And he is besides sick to his stomach.
If it helps him, I’m judge Kiffin tin spend nan astir awesome toilet money tin buy. After all, he’ll request it to propulsion up successful while Ole Miss pushes for its first nationalist title quality successful much than six decades.
Zach Mentz is Trending Sports and News Reporter for cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. His past acquisition includes clip spent pinch nan Cleveland Guardians, Cannabis Business Times, and North Coast Media. His...
