Rebel Roundabout: Ole Miss’ Kiffin one of the longest-tenured coaches in the SEC
Ole Miss has the third-best record in the SEC since Lane Kiffin debuted as head coach in 2020.
Georgia (31-2) and Alabama (31-3) are first and second, respectively, while LSU (20-14) and Florida (19-15) round out the Top 5.
Kiffin was hired during the same coaching carousel as Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri) and Sam Pittman (Arkansas). They’re all now the third-longest-tenured coaches in the conference behind Kirby Smart (Georgia) and Mark Stoops (Kentucky).
The Tigers are 17-17 over the same four-plus-year span, while the Razorbacks are 11-23.
“This is THE year for Ole Miss,” On3 college football analyst Cody Bellaire said. “If there was ever a time for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels to make a national title run, this is it. Jaxson Dart back. Phenomenal skill group. Invested a ton in the trenches via the portal. And with this schedule? Ole Miss is in the College Football Playoff.”
Athlon Magazine ranked Ole Miss No. 5 in its preseason Top 25. Missouri was No. 10.
The Rebels won a program-record 11 games last season, including a dominant performance against Penn State in the Peach Bowl. The Tigers beat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
“If Lane Kiffin goes out and wins a conference title in the toughest conference in college football? With taking 20 transfers each of the last two years? They will have shattered that glass ceiling,” On3 national analyst JD PicKell added.
SEC records since 2020 when Lane Kiffin, Eli Drinkwitz, Sam Pittman & Mike Leach (RIP) were all hired.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) June 19, 2024
Kiffin, Drink & Pittman are the 3rd most-tenured coaches in the league, behind only Mark Stoops and Kirby Smart pic.twitter.com/MQ19J0oQqo
LONG NAMED BOWERMAN SEMIFINALIST
Ole Miss great McKenzie Long on Tuesday became the second Bowerman semifinalist in Ole Miss history.
The Bowerman Award is track and field’s version of the Heisman Trophy — handed out each year to the most outstanding male and female athletes in the nation.
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Long won three national titles at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships two weeks ago. She ran the second leg of Ole Miss’ first-ever 4×100-meter relay championship (men or women) and swept the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Long is one of just 15 women in Division-l history to do so.
Long was also a two-time NCAA runner-up at Ole Miss, as well as an eight-time All-American, nine-time NCAA qualifier, two-time SEC Champion and six-time SEC medalist. She set six school records.
The Olympics are coming to Paris this summer. Long will run for a spot on Team USA at the trials held June 21-30 in Oregon.
WOMEN’S TENNIS INVITED TO ’25 KICKOFF TOURNAMENT
The field for the 2025 ITA Kickoff Weekend Tournament was set this week.
Ole Miss is the two-seed at Stanford. The tournament runs January 24-27.
Teams were selected through a draft of 14 host sites. The Rebels open against Utah, followed by either a championship or third-place match the next day against one of the host Cardinal or Memphis.
Ole Miss recently wrapped its 2024 season. The Rebels took home 12 dual match victories, including ranked wins over No. 34 LSU and No. 21 Alabama.
