Jimbo Fisher critical of Texas A&M's performance in first quarter vs. Ole Miss

Texas A&M is not off to a great start against Ole Miss. Head coach Jimbo Fisher was specific and critical when explaining his team’s performance when addressing ESPN sideline reporter Katie George.

“We have to be more clean on offense, stop the drive on defense. We had a big drop there on third down where we could have got some points,” Fisher said. “There on 3rd & 7 we could have had four downs but we didn’t have anything on that. … We just need to relax and make plays. For the defense, it’s important for the defense to get a stop within the 20.”

Texas A&M would end up giving up a touchdown on that drive. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart threw a touchdown pass on the first passing attempt in the red zone to Tre Harris.

Of course, it’s hard to get your offense going when you’re down the best player on your roster. Star wideout Evan Stewart is dealing with a lower leg injury and has been ruled out for the day.

The Aggies now trail the Rebels 14-0 with just under 13 minutes remaining in the first half. Catch the rest of the game live on ESPN.

Chris Low jokes about Lane Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher relationship, potential solution

The two have a unique relationship, to say the least, and that adds to the intrigue of Saturday afternoon’s matchup.

To ESPN’s Chris Low, who knows both coaches well, he jokingly offered a “solution” during an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show.

“Let’s get one of these octagons together and put them both in the octagon and let them go at it,” Low joked. “I’d say both would probably enjoy that. Of course, I’m being a little facetious.”

Kiffin raised some eyebrows this week when he talked about Texas A&M’s “NFL roster” in what some saw as a shot at Fisher. The Aggies missed out on a bowl game last year despite bringing in the top-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to the 2022 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking, and enter Saturday’s game with a 5-3 mark. Kiffin congratulated Texas A&M on the “collection of talent.”

Of course, Kiffin is no stranger to having some fun at other coaches’ expense, as Low pointed out. That’s especially evident in the fact that Ole Miss is 7-1 and ranked No. 10 in the first College Football Playoff rankings while Texas A&M is trying to get bowl eligible.

Add in the Aggies’ struggles on the road, and it allowed Kiffin to continue his fun, trolling ways.

“Listen, Lane is the master at poking the bear, and I don’t think he really cares who he’s poking,” Low said. “I think the fact that A&M has recruited at such a high level as far as rankings and stars and hasn’t had the success on the field, I think Lane gets a kick out of that. ‘Hey, wait a minute, here’s Ole Miss. We’re not recruiting four- and five-star players, and yet, here we are with a chance to win 10 games again for the second time in a third year.’ 

“I know it gets under Jimbo’s skin, but Jimbo also, I think, understands that no matter what Lane says or anybody else, he’s got to start winning games in town. This clearly qualifies, to go on the road and win a game where A&M has been really, pretty bad, very bad, on the road. This would go a long way toward getting A&M headed in the direction that they need to head in this year if they’re going to have the kind of season anybody around that program is expecting to have.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.