Lane Kiffin explains why Ole Miss has nothing to lose in challenge at Georgia

Ole Miss, at 8-1, is a decent underdog in a Top 20 matchup Saturday against the Georgia Bulldogs. Even so, while he is well aware of the challenge that the Rebels’ trip to Athens will present, Lane Kiffin is perfectly fine with taking the attitude that comes with that position with them to Sanford Stadium.

Kiffin spoke about the test and opportunity in front of Ole Miss during an appearance on SportsCenter on Tuesday. He said all of his program’s focus and energy is on finding a way to accomplish something against this specific opponent that no one has done since before the pandemic.

“We’re not worried about the SEC West champs right now. Part of that is out of our control. We’re worried about preparing well today and going to play the most challenging game that you could possibly have – the two-time defending national champs,” said Kiffin. “Like I said, they haven’t lost there since before COVID, five years.

“They do a great job on offense, defense, special teams. And have elite coaching to match elite players and an elite crowd,” Kiffin said. “This is the trifecta of tests here so this will be fun.”

Still, while being a two score ‘dog isn’t ideal, Kiffin knows it gives a team an edge in one sense. The Rebels have done a great job of taking their season week by week in his mind. Now, in this one, they’ll be able to do so with the pressure off of their backs. They’re just the road team that’s trying to do what many don’t believe that they can.

“We’ve just got to keep playing well, find a way to win the games. Get to 1-0 each week and then worry about the next week after that,” said Kiffin. “Like I said, this is a giant challenge – the biggest one you could possibly have, double-digit underdogs.

“No one is expecting us to have a chance so it’s kind of like playing with house money,” Kiffin said. “What do we have to lose? Let’s just go out and take a shot.”

At some point, someone is going to end Georgia’s streaks of 21 straight wins at home and 26 consecutive victories at home. While it has been nearly impossible as of late, that’s simply just a fact.

That’s why, as Ole Miss goes between the hedges this weekend, Kiffin is okay with taking his own contender in there with a Why not us? approach.