Kirk Herbstreit questions Ole Miss offense in Sugar Bowl if Jeff Lebby heads to Oklahoma

According to a report, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables is in line to become the next head coach at Oklahoma. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic said the final touches are being put on the contract.

If Venables does make the move to Norman, Ole Miss Rebels offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is thought to be hired at the same position. He went to Oklahoma for school and has been behind one of the best offenses in the country this season.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said if everything does come together for Oklahoma, the Rebels could be in trouble against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. Head coach Lane Kiffin may call the game but not having Lebby would be a game-changer.

“You brought up the name Jeff Lebby,” Herbstreit said. “We’ll see what happens with Brent Venabales [at Oklahoma], you mentioned he might go with him.  If that ends up happening, what happens in that game?

“Lane Kiffin is more than qualified, but not in that offense. Lane will be the first one to tell you how these guys, [Kendal Briles] and Lebby, how they call the game so fast, it’s even mind-boggling to him.  

If Lebby does stay to coach the Rebels in the Sugar Bowl, he would be going up against his former school in Baylor. He spent nine seasons in Waco, working in four different roles.

Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin contract details emerge

The Ole Miss Rebels officially announced a contract extension with Lane Kiffin on Saturday night, just moments after the SEC title.

The pay bump or duration of the contract was not announced in the release, but details are starting to emerge. Per ESPN’s Chris Low, the salary is in a range of $7.5 million annually. The second-year head coach just led the Rebels to their first 10-win regular season in school history.

Kiffin’s initial five-year contract with Ole Miss was set to expire after the 2024 season. His first contract was worth $4.5 million annually in base salary, with a $500,000 retention bonus, among other incentives.

With the latest Egg Bowl win, the Rebels punched a ticket to a New Year’s Six bowl game. Currently ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll, the Rebels were paced by Kiffin’s dynamic offense, which averaged over 500 yards per contest. 

It took Kiffin just two seasons to turn around the Ole Miss football program, as he inherited a team in 2020 that had not gone .500 or better since 2015. In his first season, the COVID-19 abbreviated season, Kiffin was still able to amass a 5-5 record and win the Egg Bowl.