Paul Finebaum: Lane Kiffin got his green jacket with Ole Miss victory over Georgia

Paul Finebaum believes Ole Miss‘ victory over Georgia this past weekend has elevated Lane Kiffin to a whole different level.

The SEC Network analyst likened Kiffin’s win to a golfer finally getting over the hump and winning a major, as he joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning earlier this week to discuss the Rebels’ major win over the Bulldogs, and what it means for Kiffin going forward in 2024 and beyond.

“It’s like the golfer who has won 20 tournaments and come in third, second and third ten times in the majors, but has never won one. I mean, this was like putting the green jacket on Lane Kiffin,” Finebaum stated. “He’s got a major now. It wasn’t the one he always wanted, the one over Nick Saban, but it comes pretty close. On the biggest stage in football on Saturday, he delivered with a master class. He’s now where — he always has been, among the elites of coaches, but he always managed to win down in those situations, so it was more difficult to say that. But I think the world is Lane Kiffin’s right now.

“It was incredible to watch, and so meaningful for him and for that program. This is not LSU or Alabama or Florida or Georgia. Ole Miss does not have moments like this. This is a once every ten of fifteen year moment for the Rebels, and now, with Lane Kiffin, he may have put them in a situation where they have a lot more of them.”

Ole Miss trailed 7-0 during the first quarter against the Bulldogs, and then they dealt with some major injuries, so it would’ve been easy to write off the Rebels on Saturday afternoon. However, Kiffin kept his team together, poised and marching towards the same goal. They jumped out to a 16-7 halftime lead, and they never looked back.

Now, the path to the College Football Playoff is clear for Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss. If the coach can continues to deliver, Paul Finebaum believes he’ll join the upper echelon of coaches in college football, if he’s not already there.