During the latest episode of ESPN’s College GameDay, the entire panel endorsed the Georgia Bulldogs to outpace the Ole Miss Rebels in the upcoming College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals. The prediction drew a sharp response from former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who took to social media platform X to express his disbelief. “What are you guys thinking?!?!?” he challenged. “@CollegeGameDay Have you not watched [Ole Miss]???”
Kiffin, who left Ole Miss to accept the head coach position at LSU just prior to the postseason, faced a dilemma when Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter decided against allowing him to guide the Rebels during this critical time. Instead, Ole Miss swiftly appointed defensive coordinator Pete Golding as the new head coach. Under Golding’s leadership, the Rebels showcased their potential with a resounding 41-10 victory against Tulane in the CFP’s first round. Although Kiffin had hoped to lead the team, he expressed pride in their accomplishment.
“It was awesome,” Kiffin shared during an appearance on ESPN2. “It was a great day. It really was. I’m not just saying that. To watch those guys and how much they were smiling having that success… It was the biggest game in the history of the state of Mississippi. To blow out Tulane like that, it was awesome watching them. I was really excited for them.”
Interestingly, Kiffin’s coaching shift has not left him empty-handed. As part of his agreement with LSU, he received a $250,000 bonus due to Ole Miss’s victory, matching the compensation he would have earned had he stayed at the university. Additionally, if Ole Miss secures a win over Georgia on Thursday night, he stands to gain another $500,000.
While Kiffin contemplated attending the Ole Miss-Georgia game alongside Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, he ultimately decided against the trip. The first encounter between Ole Miss and Georgia this season ended with a close 43-35 defeat for the Rebels when Kiffin was still at the helm.
Golding acknowledged the tough challenge his team faces against Georgia, highlighting the importance of staying true to their foundational principles. “Neither one of us are the same team we were when we played there,” he said. “I think you can get too cute sometimes. There’s a foundation of who you are and what you believe in and the things you got to do to be successful, regardless of who you play.”
The highly anticipated clash between 3-seed Georgia and Ole Miss is set to kick off at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN. The winner will earn a spot in the CFP semifinals, adding to the stakes of this exciting matchup.