Joel Klatt: Ole Miss could be trendy pick in the SEC in 2024

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt is high on Ole Miss for the 2024 season after another productive year under Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin led the Rebels to a 10-2 regular season, only losing to the top two teams in the SEC: Alabama and Georgia. There might be a gap right now, but it could get closed next fall, particularly with the expanded playoff.

As far as the SEC hierarchy, Ole Miss should be in the same breath as the usual suspects.

“You know there’s a lot to like about what Lane Kiffin did at Ole Miss and then the Georgia game is just a bit alarming,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Quinshon Judkins, he didn’t rush for the 1,500 yards that he did as a freshman but he did get better as the season went along as and as he got (healthier) and I think that was the big thing for him. He had 100 yards in five of his last eight games that’s going to help them and Lane wants to run the ball as much as he likes to throw it around. He needs to run the ball.” 

But, Ole Miss will get quite the boost with quarterback Jaxson Dart back for the 2024 season.

“Jaxson Dart, now has a couple of seasons starting under Kiffin, he is coming back for his senior year,” Klatt said. “That’s great for them. They look like a team that at least on paper with what they did in the portal being one of if not the best recruiting class out of the portal. They’ve done a nice job and they’ve done a nice job with their collective. Lane is a very good coach. 

“They could be a trendy pick next year in the SEC to finish in that you know second, third, fourth realm which would certainly make them kind of a playoff caliber team.”

Lane Kiffin discusses contract extension with Ole Miss

If Ole Miss is going to be competitive for the foreseeable future, the Rebels need Kiffin coaching at a high level. The school thinks he will, hence the contract extension.

Kiffin agreed to a contract extension with the Rebels before Christmas, inking a deal that will keep him under contract through 2028.

Kiffin shed some light on the details of that new extension as the Rebels prepared for their Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl game against Penn State.

“I’m very grateful to be hired here in the first place four seasons ago and to get an extension, which didn’t change any financial part of the situation, just added length and commitment that this is where we want to be and commitment from the university,” Kiffin said.