Paul Finebaum contemplates how Ole Miss can take next step under Lane Kiffin

Lane Kiffin enters his fourth season at Ole Miss looking to take the next step forward. Following a 23-13 record over his first three years with the Rebels and after enduring rumors he could leave Oxford this offseason, Kiffin inked a contract extension to stay on as head coach through 2026.

Kiffin took over a Rebels program that had not finished with a winning record in four years prior to his arrival and has since led them to back-to-back seasons in which they finished above .500. Now the next challenge lies ahead: turning Ole Miss into a regular contender in the SEC West.

In the 30 seasons since the SEC split into two divisions, the Rebels have claimed the West title only once. Otherwise, teams such as Alabama, LSU and Auburn have regularly found themselves atop the standings. With the 2023 season a little more than a month away, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum gave a blunt take on what Kiffin must do to get there.

“They’re in a good spot,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “They have four quarterbacks and one of the best running backs in the country. It’s just such a hard lane to get out of, because they’re kind of in that middle of the SEC West and they have to play all of those other schools. He got the big contract and I’m sure he’s happy with that, but at some point, Lane, beat somebody. He just has not done that very well.”

In the three seasons since he has become head coach at Ole Miss, Kiffin has just a 2-7 record against the aforementioned group of Alabama, LSU and Auburn. That includes 0-3 against the Crimson Tide, which the Rebels have not beaten since 2015.

Still, the talent on the Ole Miss roster this season has many excited to see what’s in store for 2023. The Rebels return running back Quinshon Judkins, who shattered the school freshman record this past season with 1,567 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. They also bring back starting quarterback Jaxson Dart and add top transfers at the position in Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard.

That has set the expectations high for the offense, but the tough schedule poses a major threat for Kiffin and Ole Miss. The Rebels not only face Alabama and LSU as they do every year, but also draw a road game against defending national champion Georgia.

Winning at least one of those games would be a big milestone, but it seems unlikely the Rebels could make it out of them all alive. For that reason, Finebaum is holding back with his prediction on Ole Miss.

“He’s got an early bizarre road game at Tulane,” the ESPN analyst said. “I know Tulane is not the same this year as they were in the bowl game, but that’s a weird one. I don’t know how he navigates the schedule. That’s why I’m probably not as high on Ole Miss. But yeah, all they have to do is upset somebody. That’s the problem Lane has had. Sometimes he gets into his own way and he did that last year.”

Ole Miss got off to a hot 7-0 start this past season before going 1-5 over its final six games. But with Kiffin locked up for the future and a talented roster, the Rebels will hope to prove Finebaum wrong and get back on track.

Ole Miss opens up 2023 on Sept. 2 with a game against Mercer.