Lane Kiffin tests positive for COVID-19, won't be with Rebels for Louisville

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be available Monday as the Rebels take on Louisville in Atlanta.

Kiffin confirmed his positive test, stating he is experiencing mild symptoms. He noted that he is vaccinated and that there are no other cases to report from Ole Miss at this time.

The Rebels will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend and “take responsible measures” should any symptoms arise in other members of the program.

“I am disappointed to confirm I have developed a break-through case Covid and will not accompany our team to Atlanta,” Kiffin said in a statement posted to the Ole Miss Football account on Twitter. “I am so grateful to be vaccinated and experiencing only mild symptoms. So much so, I debated over being tested, but I’m relieved that I did. I’m proud of our program’s commitment to vaccination, and as a result, there are no other cases to report or team members expected to miss the game. We will continue to monitor our team closely and take responsible measures if any symptoms arise.”

Ole Miss was one of the first major Power 5 programs in the country to reach a 100% vaccination status in early August.

The Rebels have yet to name an interim head coach. One of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, co-defensive coordinators Chris Partridge or DJ Durkin could serve as interim. Durkin has prior head coaching experience, having served as Maryland’s head coach in 2016 and 2017.

Ole Miss Season Preview

Ole Miss enters the 2021 season with high expectations following Lane Kiffin’s debut season in 2020. The Rebels went 5-5 in 2020, with wins over Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Indiana, in the Outback Bowl.

Notably, in their loss to Alabama, the Lane Kiffin-led Rebels scored the most points of any opponent the Tide faced on their way to an undefeated national championship in 2020. Ole Miss lost 63-48, posting 647 yards of total offense in the high-scoring affair.

Lane Kiffin earned a new contract over the offseason. The new contract extends through 2024 and includes an increase each year. Kiffin stands to make $4.5 million plus a $500,000 retention bonus after the upcoming season. That amount increases to $5.25 million in 2022, $5.5 million in 2023 and $5.75 million in 2024. The new contract is a sharp increase

Ole Miss finished 27th in vote count in the preseason AP Poll. The Rebels will be led by quarterback Matt Corral, entering his fourth season at Ole Miss, and return seven other offensive starters.