Lane Kiffin Reportedly Would Leave Ole Miss for Miami If Head Coach Job Opened Up
Nov 18, 2021
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin argues a call, that is shown on the stadium monitor, with a field official during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. Mississippi won 29-19. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Lane Kiffin may already have his sights set on leaving Ole Miss after two seasons.
Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640 South Florida reported Kiffin would leave Oxford if the University of Miami job became available. Manny Diaz is on the hot seat amid his third straight disappointing season with the Hurricanes.
Kiffin is no stranger to departing an SEC program and alienating a fanbase. He remains reviled at Tennessee after leaving the Vols for USC after the 2009 season. In fact, the 46-year-old has never been at a job longer than four seasons.
Kiffin was fired by the Oakland Raiders after less than two seasons, left Tennessee after one, was fired by USC five games into his fourth season and departed Florida Atlantic for Ole Miss after three seasons.
Ole Miss appeared to be a long-term home for Kiffin, a power SEC school that was willing to pay him like a program cornerstone and allow him to compete at the highest level. The Rebels are 13-7 under Kiffin, including an 8-2 mark this season. They currently have the No. 3 offense in the country, and Kiffin is still program-building with recruitment.
That said, it's hard not to see the allure of Miami. The Hurricanes program is a goldmine if run well, which it hasn't been in a long period of time. They have not finished inside the Top 10 since 2003, shuffling through five coaches over that time period.
Miami also offers an easier path toward consistent national title contention. Ole Miss will likely never be better than the fourth- or fifth-best SEC program, and that's without including Oklahoma or Texas, which are coming to the conference in 2025. Clemson is a consistent national power, but Miami could ascend quickly to the No. 2 perch if Kiffin reinvigorated the program.
Matt Corral, No. 12 Ole Miss Upset No. 11 Texas A&M 29-19 in SEC Action
Nov 14, 2021
Texas A&M defensive back Demani Richardson (26) attempts to strip the ball away from Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels followed up their win over Liberty last weekend with a 29-19 win over No. 11 Texas A&M on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels are now 8-2 on the season, while the Aggies fell to 7-3.
Saturday's win marked Ole Miss' first over Texas A&M since October 2015. Texas A&M had won the last three meetings.
Quarterback Matt Corral continues to have a significant impact in the Ole Miss offense, but running back Jerrion Ealy was also incredibly impressive Saturday night to give the Rebels their fifth win in their last six games.
Notable Stats
Matt Corral, QB, OLE MISS: 24/37 for 247 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT
Zach Calzada, QB, A&M: 22/42 for 237 YDS, 0TD, 2 INT
Jerrion Ealy, RB, OLE MISS: 24 CAR for 152 YDS
Devon Achane, RB, A&M: 12 CAR for 110 YDS, 2 TD
Ole Miss Defense Impresses in Limiting Texas A&M Running Game
The Ole Miss defense came to play on Saturday night, and they certainly did not disappoint. Texas A&M entered Saturday's game with the fifth-best rushing offense in the SEC, averaging 191.2 yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry.
Junior running back Isaiah Spiller has been the third-best running back in the SEC in rushing yardage (873), while sophomore running back Devon Achane ranked seventh in the conference with 706 rushing yards.
However, Spiller and Achane were limited against Ole Miss. In the first half, Spiller accounted for just eight carries for 24 yards, while Achane racked up 21 yards on four carries.
Spiller was also tackled in the end zone for a safety to put the Rebels up 15-0 before halftime.
Spiller and Achane finished the game with a combined 151 yards on the ground and two scores.
Defensive lineman Sam Williams was particularly effective against the Aggies, recording six tackles and one tackle for a loss. He has been among the best pass rushers in the SEC this season. Defensive back Jake Springer was also impressive against Texas A&M, recording five tackles and one tackle for a loss.
Mississippi EDGE rusher Sam Williams is a name to know. Leading the SEC in sacks, plays smart every play, he is a legit NFL prospect
However, Springer was tossed out of the game early in the third quarter for targeting after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Aggies wide receiver Demond Demas.
Jake Springer was just called for targeting, which feels like a significant loss.
Ole Miss entered Saturday's game against Texas A&M with the second-worst rushing defense in the SEC, allowing 194 yards per game on the ground, which makes the Rebels' performance against the Aggies that much more impressive.
Cannot believe how much Ole Miss defense has improved. From 127th in nation last year to dominating A&M. With exception of Auburn 1H, they have been incredible since Ark shootout.
Slow Start for Offense, Two Late Interceptions Cost Texas A&M
The Texas A&M offense got out to an incredibly slow start against Ole Miss on Saturday. The Aggies were limited to just 90 yards and entered halftime down 15-0 to the Rebels. But the tides turned in the second half.
Despite not scoring in the first half, the Aggies bounced back in the third quarter, putting up 10 points compared to the Rebels zero.
However, things took a turn for the worse for the Aggies when Calzada, down two points, threw an interception with 7:04 remaining in the game. The Ole Miss offense capitalized on the turnover as running back Snoop Conner burst into the end zone for a touchdown.
Saturday's slow start marked the second straight rough first half for the Aggies. Texas A&M scored just three points in the first half of last weekend's win over Auburn before exploding for 17 points in the second half.
The Texas A&M offense has undoubtedly had its struggles this season. The Aggies entered Saturday's game with the second-worst passing offense in the SEC, averaging just 206.2 passing yards per game.
Calzada also entered with the worst completion percentage in the SEC (54.9 percent) and the second-worst quarterback rating (120.8), per ESPN Stats.
The Rebel's ability to limit Texas A&M's potent rushing offense and shut down their passing offense was a big reason why Ole Miss came out with a win.
What's Next?
Ole Miss will face the Vanderbilt Commodores at home next weekend, while Texas A&M will host the Prairie View A&M Panthers.
Ole Miss Apologizes After Official Twitter Account Mocks Former Coach Hugh Freeze
Nov 6, 2021
Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze looks towards his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Mississippi won 27-14. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze, who formerly coached Ole Miss, received an apology from the Rebels on Saturday after the school's Twitter account mocked him following a 27-14 win over the Flames.
"These tweets were unfortunate and not who we are in Ole Miss athletics," Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter told ESPN's Chris Low. "When I found out about them, they were immediately taken down. I have spoken with (Liberty athletic director) Ian McCaw to relay my sincere apology. We will work to do better in the future."
The Ole Miss Twitter account included in a since-deleted post a photo of Freeze coaching from a hospital bed two years ago while recovering from surgery for a herniated disc in his back.
Oh, Ole Miss can delete the tweets, but the internet will ALWAYS have receipts. pic.twitter.com/LQgOXHjs0z
Despite the tweets, Freeze said he felt welcomed in his return to Ole Miss:
"For (wife) Jill and I, it was an answered prayer the reception we got," Freeze said. "We heard zero negative things, and it was incredible to visit with friends Friday and Saturday. The people there were so kind to us. Ole Miss has a really good football team, and I'm glad to see them winning again."
Freeze, who coached the Rebels from 2012 to 2016, resigned from Ole Miss in 2017 after a "pattern of inappropriate conduct" that included a "one-minute call made from Freeze's University-issued phone to a number associated with a female escort service," according to USA Today's Dan Wolken.
Ole Miss committed 15 Level I violations while Freeze was the head coach, resulting in the loss of 33 wins (fielding ineligible players), a two-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions.
The 52-year-old went 39-25 in his five seasons as head coach of the Rebels. His best season came in 2016, when Ole Miss went 10-3 and defeated Oklahoma State University in the Sugar Bowl.
Freeze became head coach at Liberty in 2019 and is 25-9 overall and 7-3 this season following Saturday's loss.
Bo Nix, No. 18 Auburn Upset Matt Corral, No. 10 Ole Miss 31-20 in SEC Action
Oct 31, 2021
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 30: Running back Tank Bigsby #4 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball by defensive back Otis Reese #3 of the Mississippi Rebels during the first quarter of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 30, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
The No. 18 Auburn Tigers never trailed en route to beating the visiting No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels 31-20 on Saturday from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.
Auburn running back Tank Bigsby paced the Tigers offense with 140 rushing yards and one touchdown, which led to a 13-3 first-quarter lead.
Tigers quarterback Bo Nix added a pair of rushing scores and found Jarquez Hunter for a nine-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the first half to help give Auburn a 28-17 halftime edge.
Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral accounted for 334 total yards (289 passing, 45 rushing) and added an 11-yard score on the ground, which cut the Auburn lead to 21-16.
The star signal-caller suffered an apparent left leg injury after avoiding a sack late in the first quarter. Rebels staff examined him in the medical tent before he was carted to the locker room.
He was out for roughly six minutes of game time spanning the first and second quarters but returned with 9:59 left in the first half.
The 6-2 Tigers (3-1 SEC) have won four of their last five. The 6-2 Rebels (3-2 SEC) saw their three-game win streak end.
Notable Performances
Ole Miss QB Matt Corral: 21-of-37, 289 passing yards, 1 INT; 10 carries, 45 rushing yards, 1 TD
Bigsby started the year with three straight 100-yard rushing performances, but he amassed just 183 yards on 55 carries (3.3 YPC) over his past four games leading into the Ole Miss matchup.
However, Bigsby got back on track with a dominant outing Saturday, grinding down the Rebels defense with tough running.
"I seen in his eyes that he was going to come out and ball. I knew he was going to turn up," Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain said postgame.
Nix also praised Bigsby's efforts, per Jordan D. Hill of the Opelika-Auburn News:"Tank's that guy that, he's going to be consistent...I think the main thing with him is he got a lot of carries tonight...He just did a good job of being a one-cut runner tonight."
Bigsby did most of his work on the ground, but he took to the air on his one-yard run:
The second half wasn't as fruitful for the Auburn offense, but the Tigers were able to keep the ball for more than 33 minutes thanks largely to their quarterback and running back. The offensive line certainly had a good night as well, helping the Tigers amass 483 yards.
Overall, it was an impressive showing for the Auburn offense, whose 28-point first-half outburst ended up being enough for the win.
Fantastic Effort From Corral
Chase Parham of Rivals put it best on Saturday:
Matt Corral is down two offensive linemen, his three best wide receivers and a starting tight end. And doesn’t have an ankle. I don’t know who’s getting the trophy in a month but I know who the best and toughest SOB is.
Corral had a host of obstacles to overcome. In addition to his team's shorthanded offense (and his own left ankle injury), he was tasked with leading the Rebels into a hostile environment to face a hot Tigers team.
The Heisman Trophy candidate was also playing through a right ankle injury suffered against Tennessee on Oct. 16, making matters even more difficult.
All things considered, he was impressive considering the circumstances.
The injured ankles didn't stop Corral from rushing for his 11-yard touchdown to bring Ole Miss within one score in the second quarter:
The rest of the game didn't go so well for Corral and the Rebels, who managed just three second-half points in a matchup that devolved into a defensive slugfest.
However, Corral's resilience in the face of significant adversity is one of the night's clear takeaways, and ESPN's Molly McGrath gave him a huge compliment following his effort.
Ole Miss’ Matt Corral leads with so much intensity and heart. I have never covered a QB like him.
The night didn't end in victory for Ole Miss, but Corral and the Rebels can still stand tall after a strong effort.
What's Next?
Both teams will play Saturday.
Ole Miss will host Liberty in Oxford, Mississippi's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Auburn will visit No. 14 Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station.
Matt Corral, No. 12 Ole Miss Rout LSU Behind Dominant Rushing Performance
Oct 23, 2021
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels are on a three-game winning streak following a 31-17 victory over the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday.
Despite a slow start, quarterback Matt Corral was impressive in the Rebels victory, finishing with 209 total yards and two total touchdowns to help push Ole Miss to 6-1. The team hasn't lost since an Oct. 2 defeat at No. 4 Alabama. LSU is 4-4.
Notable Stats
Matt Corral, QB, OLE MISS: 18/23 for 185 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT; 12 CAR for 24 YDS, 1 TD
Max Johnson, QB, LSU: 13/21 for 146 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT; 6 CAR for -8 YDS, 0 TD
Snoop Conner, RB, OLE MISS: 14 CAR for 117 YDS, 0 TD
Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, LSU: 17 CAR for 53 YDS, 1 TD
Jerrion Ealy, RB, OLE MISS: 12 CAR for 97 YDS, 1 TD
Matt Corral, Ole Miss Offense Bounces Back After Slow Start
Corral and the Ole Miss offense got out to an incredibly slow start. The Rebels punted on their first two offensive possessions and could only muster a field goal on their third possession after Tysheem Johnson intercepted Max Johnson in the first quarter.
Corral didn't put up a touchdown until late in the second quarter when he hit tight end Casey Kelly for a two-yard score to help give the Rebels a 10-7 lead.
Things appeared to be much easier for Corral following his first touchdown of the day. After the Ole Miss defense got a stop on the Tigers, the Heisman Trophy favorite led the Rebels on a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to close out the first half.
What. A. Drive.
Matt Corral and Ole Miss execute a flawless plan to put another score on the board before half. pic.twitter.com/6RFFShvcWk
Entering halftime, the Rebels held a 17-7 lead over the Tigers. Corral had completed 11-of-14 passes for 101 yards and a score. He also had a rushing touchdown.
Many took note of how Corral closed out the first half:
This @OleMissFB QB is the real deal-MATT CORRAL needs more national PR as is deserving of @HeismanTrophy mention. Earning praise from my ex partner @espn BRAD NESSLER on @CBSSports & also from Gary D former @BoilerFootball QB. Ole Miss up 17-7 - LaneKiffin has done great job .
The 22-year-old had a much better second half. He led the Rebels on a 10-play, 66-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession of the third quarter. Running back Henry Parrish Jr.'s 5-yard score helped put Ole Miss up 24-7.
Corral's solid play continued throughout the second half as he led the Rebels on another touchdown drive to really put things out of reach for the Tigers late in the third quarter.
Corral has arguably been the best quarterback in college football this season, so it's no surprise he was able to bounce back with an impressive second half against LSU.
We can't talk about Corral without bringing up how well Ole Miss played on the ground, though. The Rebels offense rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns on 50 carries.
Success in the running game isn't new for Ole Miss, though. Entering this weekend, the Rebels were leading the SEC with 262.8 rushing yards per game.
Max Johnson Unable to Match Corral as Rebels Defense Stands Strong
Johnson entered halftime with just 97 yards and an interception on 8-of-14 passing. He led LSU to a score on the team's opening drive of the game but then threw a pick on the Tigers' second possession.
4th-and-goal. Max Johnson fires to the end zone and...
Things went from bad to worse for Johnson in the second half. After LSU was forced to punt on its opening drive, the Ole Miss defense forced a Johnson fumble on the Tigers' second possession of the third quarter.
The Rebels limited the Tigers offense to 326 total yards and two total touchdowns. They also forced three turnovers, while the Ole Miss offense had one.
Before Saturday's game, the Ole Miss defense had allowed 436 yards and 30.2 points per game, third-worst in the SEC.
The Tigers ended up taking Johnson out in the fourth quarter, replacing him with freshman Garrett Nussmeier, who had appeared in just two games before Saturday. Nussmeier completed 7-of-12 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
What's Next?
Ole Miss will be in action again next weekend at No. 19 Auburn, which was off this weekend after a 38-23 win at Arkansas on Oct. 16.
LSU will be off next weekend before going on the road to face the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 6.
Lane Kiffin Gave His Visor to Fans Chanting 'F--k You' at Him in Return to Tennessee
Oct 18, 2021
Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin walks the sideline during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. Mississippi won 31-26. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Lane Kiffin gave jeering Tennessee fans a parting gift after his Ole Miss team defeated the Volunteers 31-26 in Knoxville's Neyland Stadium on Saturday, tossing his visor into the stands:
Lane Kiffin caught a water bottle on his way out of Neyland Stadium — and tossed his visor back 😅 pic.twitter.com/KVxZiPK7ZB
Kiffin explained his rationale for throwing the visor to ESPN's Chris Low.
"The Tennessee fans there at the tunnel were all going, 'F--k you, f--k you,' so I throw them my visor ... and they all start fighting over it," Kiffin said. "Maybe all of them don't hate me."
It was an ugly night in Knoxville. Fans threw objects onto the field after officials ruled Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren short of the line to gain on a 4th-and-24 play with under a minute left in the fourth quarter and the Vols trailing by five.
Chaos ensued and the game was halted for 20 minutes until the situation was resolved. After the game restarted, Ole Miss held on for the win.
Vols fans continued to express their displeasure with Kiffin, who coached Tennessee in 2009 before abruptly leaving for USC. They threw objects at him as he walked out of the stadium, and the coach caught a water bottle thrown his way.
Kiffin left the stadium without injury, and his team improved to 5-1.
Lane Kiffin Says He Got Hit with Bottles 'Filled with Some Brown Stuff' vs. Tennessee
Oct 17, 2021
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin watches a replay during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Tulane on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. Mississippi won 61-21. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
An ugly scene late in the game cast a pall over Mississippi's 31-26 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin told Nick Suss of the Clarion-Ledger he was hit with "bottles filled with some brown stuff" and that it "probably wasn't moonshine."
The game was delayed about 20 minutes late in the fourth quarter because fans were throwing objects onto the field, including a golf ball that appeared to hit Kiffin:
The Ole Miss-Tennessee game was delayed because of fans throwing objects at Ole Miss players. pic.twitter.com/VXAenOy1Ty
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement condemning the actions of Tennessee's fans:
The Conference has established expectations for behavior and sportsmanship, and the actions of fans at Saturday night’s game were unacceptable under any circumstances. We are accustomed to intense competition every week, but under no circumstances is it acceptable to endanger the content participants and disrupt a game. We will review existing Conference policies and the Commissioner’s authority to impose penalties and communicate with the leadership at the University of Tennessee—and all of the SEC’s member universities—to make certain this situation is not repeated.
To Kiffin's credit, he did seem to have a good sense of humor about the situation after the game:
Tennessee did get the ball back after the delay with a chance to win. Joe Milton III, who took over for the injured Hendon Hooker on the second play of the final drive, ran out of bounds at the Rebels' 8-yard line on the last play.
Kiffin's first head coaching job at the college level was with Tennessee in 2009. The 46-year-old went 7-6 in his lone season with the program before taking over at USC.
His departure led to a hostile reaction on Tennessee's campus, including students burning mattresses and trash in front of the athletic department building.
Tennessee vs. Ole Miss Delayed After Fans Throw Objects onto Field
Oct 17, 2021
Tennessee's Chase McGrath (40) kicks a field goal during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
An ugly scene developed at Knoxville's Neyland Stadium on Saturday evening as University of Tennessee football fans pelted the field with objects following a close call near the end of a 31-26 loss to Ole Miss.
The Ole Miss-Tennessee game was delayed because of fans throwing objects at Ole Miss players. pic.twitter.com/VXAenOy1Ty
Down 31-26, Tennessee faced a 4th-and-24 from its own 36-yard line with 54 seconds remaining.
Undeterred, quarterback Hendon Hooker fired a pass down the middle of the field to tight end Jacob Warren, who split Ole Miss defenders and tried for the first down.
He appeared to fall right before or at the line to gain as Ole Miss defensive back Otis Reese tackled him. The call on the field was that Warren was one yard short, and that stood upon review.
Fans started throwing objects on the field as Ole Miss got the ball back. The game was forced to stop as the scene got more dangerous.
Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports described some of the objects relayed via the SEC Network broadcast:
Ole miss-Tenn sideline announcer, as fans throw shit on the field:
“I’ve seen vape pens, golf balls, water bottles, beer ... there’s a whole jar of mustard down here in the field.”
The Ole Miss sideline was also littered with debris as the game halted for more than 20 minutes.
The Rebels moved toward the middle of the field as coaches, officials and law enforcement met to discuss their options.
Ultimately, the scene calmed down, and the game continued.
Ole Miss went three-and-out as Tennessee burned its timeouts. If there wasn't already enough drama, a Velus Jones Jr. punt return past midfield and a Hooker 14-yard run got the ball to the Ole Miss 33-yard line with 18 seconds left.
However, Hooker then went down with an injury, and he was replaced by Joe Milton II, who found Walker Merrill for 12 yards. A miracle was not meant to be, however, as an incomplete pass and a 13-yard Milton run ended the game.
Emotions were already running high pregame thanks to the return of Kiffin, who led the Tennessee program in 2009 before resigning after just one season and leaving for USC in Jan. 2010. The sloppy departure created an uproar in Knoxville, and fans made sure Kiffin knew of their displeasure with their pregame jeering as he was interviewed.
Then the game started, and it was a back-and-forth affair between two SEC rivals in front of a raucous crowd.
Still, none of that was an excuse for the fans' behavior, which received just criticism postgame:
Ole Miss wins and more trash raining down from the stands. Disgraceful, UT fans. Pathetic night when everyone started out talking how good that atmosphere was. Just gross.
After the game ended, Kiffin was escorted into the locker room by security. More objects were thrown in his vicinity, and Kiffin returned the favor by tossing his visor over the tunnel to a fan above, as shown by Ben McKee of Volquest.
Vols head coach Josh Heupel addressed the fan behavior postgame.
#Vols head coach Josh Heupel's opening statement: First, I want to acknowledge to the few fans what transpired at the end. Disappointing to see things thrown on the field. For the most part, what an unbelievable atmosphere. Phenomenal to be a part of it.
Heupel also had no update on Hooker. As Trey Wallace of OutKick tweeted, Hooker didn't appear to put pressure on his right leg following the aforementioned run.
As for the two teams, Ole Miss improved to 5-1 (2-1 SEC), and Tennessee fell to 4-3 (1-2 SEC).
Bryce Young, No. 1 Alabama Dominate Matt Corral, No. 12 Ole Miss in SEC Matchup
Oct 2, 2021
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 02: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to facing the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 02, 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Alabama Crimson Tide have extended their winning streak to 19 consecutive games after their 42-21victory over Ole Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
No. 1 Alabama was hitting all the right notes through its first four games. The defending national champs were outscoring their opponents by an average of 29 points this season (46.5 to 17.5).
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin had also been pushing all the right buttons for his team to start this season. The Rebels entered Saturday leading the nation with 52.7 points per game and ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
After a quiet first quarter that saw Alabama hold a 7-0 lead, the Crimson Tide blew things wide-open with 21 points in the second quarter.
Three of Mississippi's first four drives ended in a turnover on downs. Alabama scored touchdowns on each ensuing possession. Brian Robinson Jr. did a lot of the heavy lifting on offense, running for 171 yards and four scores in the win.
Matt Corral had an accurate day throwing the ball, completing 21of his 29attempts. But the junior quarterback had season lows in average yards per attempt (7.3) and total passing yards (213).
Notable Game Stats
Bryce Young (ALA): 20-of-26, 241 yards, 2 TD, INT
Brian Robinson Jr. (ALA): 36 carries, 171 yards, 4 TD
Henry Parrish Jr. (MISS): 11 carries, 47 yards; 3 receptions, 23 yards
Dontario Drummond (MISS): 4 receptions, 43 yards
Bama's Running Game Rebounds in Blowout Win
There was some concern about Alabama's rushing attack coming into this game because of how well Florida was able to contain that unit last week.
The Crimson Tide entered Saturday's game ranked 10th in the SEC with 151.8 yards per game on the ground. The Gators held them to just 91 yards and 3.3 yards per carry, but Alabama was able to escape with a 31-29 win.
Compounding that issue was Ole Miss came into this matchup with a respectable run defense. It was tied with Navy for 57th in the nation with 132.3 rushing yards allowed per game.
Ole Miss' first three games were against Louisville, Austin Peay and Tulane. Alabama is certainly in a different class than those three teams, and it wound up showing in the head-to-head matchup.
While Robinson was having the best game of his career, the Alabama defense was making life a nightmare for Kiffin and the Ole Miss offense.
Kiffin, to his credit, didn't try to play conservatively early. The first possession of the game was a 16-play drive by the Rebels that saw them get down to Alabama's 6-yard line.
Facing a 4th-and-1, Kiffin elected to go for it with a handoff to Jerrion Ealy. Alabama's defense stuffed the middle of the line to get a turnover on downs.
The Crimson Tide responded on their first possession with a 13-play, 94-yard drive that ended with Young's 16-yard touchdown pass to John Metchie III.
After getting the ball back, Ole Miss was faced with another short fourth-down attempt that Kiffin decided to go for. Corral's pass to Braylon Sanders was incomplete, leading to another turnover on downs.
Midway through the second quarter, Alabama's defense came up with its third fourth-down stop of the game. Henry To'o To'o snuffed out the option on 4th-and-1 by tackling Ealy for a four-yard loss.
On Ole Miss' first play after getting the ball back following an Alabama touchdown, Corral turned the ball over on a fumble when Phidarian Mathis sacked him.
Even though this year's Alabama team doesn't have the same electrifying offensive talent as the 2020 squad, head coach Nick Saban has that unit playing efficiently to start the season. The defense remains as dominant as it always is.
The Crimson Tide have once again staked their claim as the best team in the nation.
Early Mistakes Cost Rebels
Playing Alabama is hard enough, but it becomes even more difficult if you don't execute at a high level.
Kiffin's decisions to go for it on fourth down made all the sense in the world. The Rebels aren't as talented as their opponent, so they have to take some risks in order to win. They have also been very good in those situations so far this season.
We used to be so enamored by Les Miles going for 4th downs. Lane Kiffin does it all the time now and it just feels normal. Rebels 13-for-15 on 4th down this season.
The problem is, the plays Kiffin and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby dialed up were not conducive to success against the Crimson Tide defense.
Ealy was stuffed on the first drive of the game. Corral's pass to Sanders was caught out of bounds. The option to Ealy was terribly executed by everyone, allowing To'o To'o to blow it up.
After picking up 59 yards on its opening drive, the Ole Miss offense managed a total of 20 yards combined on its next five drives in the first half.
Things will get easier for Kiffin and the Rebels going forward. They do have to play an Arkansas team that was shut out 37-0 by Georgia on Saturday, but that's their last game against a ranked opponent until Oct. 30.
Ole Miss is trending in the right direction overall, but the loss to Alabama was a stark reminder of how much work remains for Kiffin and the coaching staff to turn the program into an SEC powerhouse.
What's Next?
Alabama will go on the road to play No. 15 Texas A&M at Kyle Field on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. Ole Miss will return home to host No. 8 Arkansas next Saturday.
Lane Kiffin Jokingly Responds to USC HC Opening, References Being Fired at Airport
Sep 30, 2021
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin watches a replay during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Tulane on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. Mississippi won 61-21. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin recently had to relive arguably the nadir of his coaching career.
During an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Kiffin discussed the current vacancy at USC and said he's committed to leading the Rebels.
He added he recently traveled to the airport at which then-USC athletic director Pat Haden fired him in 2013. He said it was "very eerie" and "a little bit strange" to fly into the airport on a recruiting visit to Los Angeles.
DP asks @Lane_Kiffin about his interest in the #USC gig. And Lane shares a story about being back at the airport tarmac he was fired at, this past weekend.... pic.twitter.com/2LF0KTSblb
As the 46-year-old explained, he has also seen his career bounce back nicely since leaving the Trojans.
He won a national championship as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama. His contributions also helped to reshape the Crimson Tide's attack, thus helping them maintain their perch atop college football.
Kiffin also compiled a 27-13 record in three years at Florida Atlantic before taking over at Ole Miss. The Rebels head into Saturday's game against Alabama with a 3-0 record, a No. 12 ranking and a possible Heisman Trophy contender in Matt Corral.
It's a sign of his and USC's divergent fortunes that Kiffin could plausibly be a candidate to succeed Clay Helton in L.A. Everybody had their fun when reading about how Haden dismissed Kiffin, but look who's having the last laugh now.
