The Ole Miss Rebels are gearing up for one of the biggest games in program history-Thursday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Georgia-but the shadow of Lane Kiffin’s abrupt exit still looms large over the team.
Kiffin, who accepted the head coaching job at LSU, won’t be on the sidelines for Ole Miss during the playoff run. The school made it clear: once he left, he was done coaching the Rebels.
But in a twist that’s added layers of complexity to an already high-stakes situation, six of Kiffin’s assistants-including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.-were allowed to stay on through the postseason. That means the Rebels are trying to prepare for Georgia with coaches who are already packing their bags for Baton Rouge.
And the timing couldn’t be more chaotic. The transfer portal opens the day after the Rebels face Georgia, creating a tight window where emotions, decisions, and potential departures are all colliding. According to reports, there’s growing concern inside the Ole Miss program about possible tampering-specifically, that LSU could be eyeing several Rebels players once the season ends.
Walker Jones, the director of the Ole Miss NIL collective, didn’t hold back when addressing the situation. “It’s unfortunate what has been going on with our players and their former head coach and staff,” Jones said. “Having to deal with the pressure of making future decisions while trying to prepare for a playoff run is not a sustainable model.”
He didn’t stop there. “Yes, does a bad calendar and lack of true oversight hurt?
Of course,” he continued. “But so does poor character and lack of respect for your former employer and players.
That being said, we are prepared and effectively dealing with this first-of-its-kind, complicated situation.”
The concern isn’t just about timing-it’s about trust. With coaches wearing two hats, one for Ole Miss and one for LSU, the lines get blurry. To address that, Ole Miss has reportedly put a safeguard in place: assistant coaches staying with the Rebels are sitting in on meetings led by those who are heading to LSU, just to ensure nothing inappropriate is happening behind closed doors.
Even Weis Jr., who’s in the middle of it all, acknowledged how strange the dynamic has become. “You spend the whole day grinding together with the game-plan, and at night, you’ve got to go to opposite sides,” he said.
“At nighttime, we go take care of recruiting meetings on our own. It’s a crazy deal.”
For the players, it’s a surreal situation. They’re trying to focus on the biggest game of their lives while navigating a coaching staff in transition and uncertainty about who might be sticking around next season.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, speaking ahead of the Sugar Bowl, said he hasn’t spoken with Kiffin since his departure-and doesn’t think that kind of contact is even allowed right now. Instead, his focus is squarely on Georgia and the opportunity to push Ole Miss deeper into the playoff.
The Rebels have a monumental task in front of them, but they’re also fighting battles off the field-battles over loyalty, timing, and the evolving landscape of college football. If they can channel all of that into Thursday’s game, they might just write a new chapter in program history. But make no mistake: this is uncharted territory, and Ole Miss is navigating it in real time.