Back in the Coach of the Year conversation, Lane Kiffin understands the challenge of winning in the SEC

There is still half of the season remaining but Lane Kiffin has No. 13 Ole Miss once again in a prime position to have its second historic year out of the last three.

Coming off the pair of wins over Southeastern Conference foes LSU and Arkansas the Rebels (5-1, 2-1 SEC) are refreshed and rested and sitting in a spot where a double-digit win total is possible in the regular season.

Kiffin led Ole Miss to its first 10-win regular season in 2021 on the program’s way back to the Sugar Bowl and a New Year’s Six berth for the first time in five years. After the abysmal finish to last season where the Rebels managed only one win after October 22, the Rebels have a chance to make the 2022 campaign an anomaly under Kiffin.

Finding consistent success in the SEC is a challenge for those not named Alabama or Georgia, at least that is how it comes across to the common eye that checks in on college football from September to January then dips out again for eight months.

Those like Kiffin that are in the SEC grind 365 days a year it is painfully known to them the difficulties of putting a team in the position to amass 20 wins in two separate seasons, let alone back-to-back.

For Kiffin and even his counterpart this weekend, Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, this is their second soirée at the helm of a SEC program. Even having previous knowledge of this conference does not make the second time through easier.

“I don’t know that it’s tougher,” Kiffin said on Monday. “I think the SEC has been tough for a while. I can’t speak for (Hugh Freeze), but when I came in it was really tough. You’re playing Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, so I think for me at least, both times it’s been really tough. Great players and great coaches that you play against.”

With all that said Kiffin has found himself back in the Coach of the Year conversation for a second time at Ole Miss.

This week brought all the midseason updates to the national award watch lists, including the Coach of the Year honors. Kiffin found his name on both the Bobby Dodd and Bear Bryant Coach of the Year watch lists.

In 2021 Kiffin was in this same conversation as the Rebels rattled off a nearly identical path to 10 wins. An early loss to Alabama in September followed by a regrouping and two SEC wins in close similar fashion as what the Rebels first six games have looked like in 2023.

Now, Kiffin must go against a former Ole Miss coach in Freeze at the one place and specific environment the Rebels have never won — Jordan Hare Stadium after dark.

There is not much familiarity between Kiffin and Freeze, beyond Kiffin being on the opposite sideline when Ole Miss shocked the Crimson Tide in 2014 and 2015 while Freeze guided the Rebels.

Then two years ago Kiffin and Freeze met up at midfield at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium but roles had been reversed. Kiffin now at the helm of Ole Miss and Freeze leading Liberty at the time.

“I haven’t been around (Freeze) that much,” Kiffin said. “A few times over the years. My brother (Chris Kiffin), when he coached here. Really appreciate how he treated my brother. I’ve had nothing but good interactions the few times I’ve seen him. SEC Media Days, and then obviously against Liberty when they played here, so that’s about it.”

Saturday’s meeting between the two is quite frankly the biggest for both Kiffin and Freeze. Ole Miss is looking to keep that march to double-digit wins intact and Auburn is trying to turn a floundering season around.

A win for the Rebels ensures Kiffin’s longest-tenured head coaching job continues to be one that is forging a new legacy.