Lane Kiffin breaks down what he has learned about Egg Bowl rivalry since arrival

This season’s Egg Bowl will be the fourth time Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has coached in the rivalry against Mississippi State. Along the way, he’s learned a lot about the rivalry.

For Kiffin, one of the most important things about the rivalry isn’t to do with the two programs at all, though. Instead, it’s how the game is played on Thanksgiving, making for a short week of preparation.

“Unlike just a normal rivalry game, learning the Thursday aspect of the scheduling and getting a good plan with that because we haven’t been part of a lot of Thursday night games, short week in college football,” Lane Kiffin said. “I think there’s some stuff to that to get used to. Again, last year’s schedule was so bizarre of playing so late on Saturday night on the road, so I think there’s some of that.”

Last season, in Mike Leach‘s final game before passing away, Mississippi State beat Ole Miss. It was Lane Kiffin’s first loss in the Egg Bowl. That was a new experience for Kiffin to learn from too.

“I think too, some things you have a different view of it when you lose it. We had the trophy here for a couple of years and then lost it last year. So, I hope that makes the players want it back more than just having it here the whole time.”

This season, Kiffin and Ole Miss are in Starkville for the Egg Bowl. The Bulldogs are already on an interim head coach. However, Mississippi State is still playing to become bowl-eligible while Ole Miss is looking to get to 10 wins in the regular season.

Rece Davis picks Ole Miss to win, cover in the Egg Bowl

Ahead of the Egg Bowl, ESPN’s Rece Davis shared that he not only expects Ole Miss to win the Egg Bowl, he expects Ole Miss to cover the spread against Mississippi State.

“You know, this is a Thanksgiving tradition in our house. We love watching the Egg Bowl. There’s usually something bizarre, somebody’s hiking their leg, some kind of weird call. I called an Egg Bowl once where Dak Prescott wasn’t going to play and then came off the bench and led them to victory with a weird Bo Wallace fumble through the end zone at the end and overtime to finish the game,” Davis said.

“I know bizarre things happen. But man, Mississippi State can’t get behind that even at home. I do not like laying that many points in a rivalry game, especially when you know, when you’re laying them on the road. But I’m going to take Ole Miss and lay the 10.”