Lane Kiffin takes not-so-subtle shot at Ole Miss fan attendance ahead of Egg Bowl

One of college football’s most unique rivalries is set to take place on Thursday with the Egg Bowl.

This year’s contest is set to take place in Starkville. When asked about the possibility of Ole Miss fans fans making the trip, second-year Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin made a not-so-subtle shot toward the Ole Miss faithful.

“I don’t know that,” Kiffin said. “I’m not really sure. We didn’t travel very well to our own game last week. Hopefully, we’ll travel to an away game better.”

The announced attendance on Saturday against Vanderbilt was just over 50,000. Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford holds 64,038.

Kiffin wanted the fans to come out to support the Ole Miss players who would be playing at home for the final time this season. One of which is likely quarterback Matt Corral, who released a statement to the fans before the game.

Kiffin says home attendance plays into recruiting

Monday was not the first time Kiffin called out Ole Miss fans for not packing their stadium. Heading into the Vanderbilt game, he said the lackluster atmosphere has been used against the Rebels in the recruiting world.

“It depends on which game they have come to,” Kiffin said. “We have kind of heard both. We haven’t been at capacity so that is important. I think it’s hard for fans to understand that. Not just your current players, obviously, like this one Senior Day. Them having energy and not seeing empty seats but recruits and people recruit against you.

“That’s recruiting. You show pictures of your stadium. If you’re playing in a big game and its not full, they use that against you. It’s very important for stadiums to be full, especially when you’re in the SEC trying to recruit and play at a high level.”

Kiffin has brought in the No. 32 overall 2022 class in the country according to the On3 Consensus. Madison (MS) Germantown defensive lineman Zxavian Harris is the highest-rated player in the class, coming in at No. 162 overall.

Corral sends warning ahead of Egg Bowl

After getting the win over Vanderbilt, Corral was asked what it meant to him to participate in the Senior Night festivities. He was quick to dismiss any emotion, saying Ole Miss needs to refocus in order to beat Mississippi State.

“All I’m thinking about is tomorrow and getting ready for [Mississippi] State,” Corral said. “Just because it was a sloppy win today. You don’t really have to know football to see that. You can just see it in our play. We’ve just got to get better.

“This was nothing to celebrate,” Corral told his teammates postgame. “If we’re being honest, last week, we didn’t have the best practice Monday and Tuesday. … When we play teams of our caliber, they’re going to win. So, if we play like that against Mississippi State, we’re going to get blown out. That’s just the reality of it.”

Kiffin and Ole Miss will face off against Mississippi State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.