Lane Kiffin’s postgame moment following Ole Miss’ 34-26 victory over Oklahoma quickly went viral for all the right reasons. After the game, the head coach was spotted exchanging playful words with a Sooners defender who had been chirping throughout the matchup. Kiffin later clarified that this was simply part of his personality and nothing personal, especially since the player had repeatedly told him the Rebels wouldn’t score.
However, the bigger takeaway for Kiffin was how his team handled late-game pressure—especially coming just one week after a tough fourth quarter against Georgia.
“We’re up two scores last week at Georgia, where they never lose except Alabama, and we didn’t finish it off,” Kiffin said. “We got knocked down. And so that same situation happens today on the road; [ranked] team, No. 1 defense in the country. Can we be stronger in those situations, especially defensively? For that to happen, it’s really cool.”
According to ESPN, Ole Miss flipped the script this time. The Rebels outscored Oklahoma 9-0 in the fourth quarter, held the Sooners to just 84 yards over the final 15 minutes, and forced quarterback John Mateer into 10 incompletions on his last 15 throws—including a last-ditch heave that fell short of the end zone.
This win also marked a milestone for Kiffin’s tenure: Ole Miss’s first road victory over a ranked SEC opponent under his leadership. ESPN Research notes that the Rebels are now 6-0 following a loss since the start of the 2023 season, showcasing the kind of resilience Kiffin highlighted.
A week after being shut down late in Athens, Ole Miss answered with complementary football—leaning on a defense that closed the door and an offense that managed the game during winning moments.
Kiffin also acknowledged the emotional carryover from the Georgia game. He said the sideline experienced a “here we go” moment as the crowd surged and the opponent pushed back, but this time the Rebels didn’t “freak out.” Instead, they steadied themselves, communicated effectively, and finished strong.
Off the field, the noise surrounding Kiffin isn’t fading away. Per ESPN’s Molly McGrath, Kiffin shared that he plans to address ongoing Florida coaching rumors directly with his team. He framed the speculation as a compliment to the Ole Miss program and described the conversation as necessary for a roster filled with many newcomers. Kiffin emphasized that any future decisions will be based on “everyday happiness,” not money.
With this signature response and newfound clarity, Ole Miss is shaping a clearer identity: a team learning how to win the fourth quarter when it matters most.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/ole-miss-football-news-lane-kiffin-cool-truth-bomb-after-pulling-off-sec-first