Jeff Lebby brings Mississippi State a 'Lane Kiffin energy' opposing coach feels

On Nov. 26, 2023, Mississippi State hired Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby to be the program’s next head coach. In an interview with Athlon Sports, an anonymous opposing SEC assistant coach weighed in on the hire.

“The relationship with [former head coach Will] Arnett and the university was strained from the start,” the coach said. “It wasn’t a great fit for a first-time head coaching job, and the circumstances around [former head coach Mike] Leach’s passing made it tough for everyone. I don’t think anyone is at fault there, it just wasn’t going to work out so they moved fast.

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“Jeff Lebby is going to give them a kind of Lane Kiffin energy and obviously a similar offense, and he’s going to attack recruiting skill position guys. The biggest question in Starkville is how serious are they going to get in NIL? Their expectation is to keep up with Ole Miss, but right now it’s not close in recruiting.”

Lebby obviously didn’t have ample time to recruit in the 2024 class, considering the date of his hire. However, he made the most of his difficult circumstances. Lebby ended the 2024 recruiting cycle with the No. 26 incoming class, per On3’s Industry Rankings.

Lebby found more talent in the transfer portal, where Mississippi State gained 19 players this offseason. Former Louisville wide receiver Kevin Coleman headlines the group. In the 2023 campaign, Coleman recorded 26 receptions for 362 yards and two touchdowns.

How does Mississippi State matchup to Ole Miss?

Lebby will need all the talent he can muster to replicate Lane Kiffin’s success. Last season, Ole Miss ranked No. 9 in the final AP Top 25 of the year. Kiffin and Co. are primed for another standout season after a monstrous offseason in the portal. Of course, Lebby will first attempt to match Kiffin’s offensive output.

Lebby’s units have finished in the top six nationally in total offense three times over the last five seasons, including No. 2 with UCF in 2019 (540.5 ypg) and then No. 3 with Ole Miss in 2020 (555.5 ypg). Oklahoma finished the 2023 regular season with the nation’s No. 4 ranked offense (502.4 ppg).

If Lebby can show promise in his debut campaign at the helm of MSU, the NIL dollars will follow. MSU’s official NIL collective is the Bulldog Initiative, which engages directly with select MSU student-athletes and works to connect those athletes with outside marketing opportunities.

After MSU named the Bulldog Initiative its official collective last September, it raised $1.3 million in five days. Jeff Lebby and his Bulldogs will look to give fans a few more reasons to donate this fall.