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Lane Kiffin reveals the lengths Ole Miss went to take down Georgia

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•11/13/24•

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NCAA Football: Mississippi at Georgia
Nov 11, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin talks to Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart before a game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Lane Kiffin knew his program would have to change ways after losing to Georgia last season, needing to be more like them. So when Ole Miss took down the Bulldogs, it was more than just a normal win for Kiffin. Over a year’s worth of hard work finally paid off in getting Ole Miss a win they desperately wanted.

“That was a big goal,” Kiffin said on beating Georgia. “We went 11-2 last year, won the Peach Bowl. But that Georgia game and that feeling that we were still a ways off from being Georgia, who to me, was the elite program in the country. Especially when it comes to personnel and players and coaching.

“We made some changes after that and went out, got a lot of size on the offensive line and the front on defense and twitch rushers that can close the game out.”

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Of the 26 transfers brought into the program via the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, seven of them played along the line of scrimmage. Defensive line is where the biggest splash was made, landing the likes of Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen.

On the flip side, two offensive line starters — Julius Buelow and Nake Kalepo — were members of Washington‘s Joe Moore Award-winning group last season.

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Getting those caliber of players to Oxford was one thing but going out there and taking on Georgia was another. Kiffin revealed Ole Miss spent time preparing for the Nov. 9 matchup during the offseason despite being months away. The goal was to become right on par with Kirby Smart‘s program before taking them on.

“We spent a lot of time in the offseason game planning them,” Kiffin said via The Paul Finebaum Show. “That’s a lot of respect to Georgia that we did that. We took offseason practices and things because they were the elite team in college football. To me, you always want to shoot to beat those people and you have to become them in some ways.”

A big box has been checked for Kiffin, finally getting the signature win he needed. He will now be the first to admit there is still work to be done. Ole Miss has two games remaining and is in the College Football Playoff conversation. Preparation for the next game against Florida, despite having a bye week, has already begun.