Lane Kiffin may no longer be on the Ole Miss sideline, but his fingerprints are still all over the Rebels’ playoff run - for better or worse.
After coaching this group through the regular season, there's no doubt Kiffin wants to see his former team make a deep postseason push. And with LSU reportedly agreeing to pay him the bonuses he would’ve earned at Ole Miss based on their playoff finish, he’s got more than just sentimental reasons to root for their success.
But here’s the twist: while Kiffin is cheering for the Rebels, he might also be unintentionally giving Georgia a major edge heading into Thursday’s matchup.
The Double-Edged Sword of Kiffin’s Transition
Kiffin is in the middle of assembling his new staff at LSU, and a good chunk of that staff is coming straight from Oxford. These are coaches who know the Rebels’ personnel inside and out - guys who helped build the game plans, develop the players, and steer Ole Miss to the playoff in the first place.
But instead of making a clean break, Kiffin is allowing those assistants to finish out the postseason with Ole Miss before they officially join him in Baton Rouge. That sounds noble on the surface - letting them see the job through - but it creates a tricky dynamic. These coaches are effectively working two jobs: helping Ole Miss prepare for Georgia while also laying the groundwork for Kiffin’s LSU future, particularly on the recruiting trail.
And that split focus? That’s a problem.
Georgia Has the Full Attention Advantage
The Bulldogs aren’t dealing with any of this. Their staff is locked in, fully focused, and preparing with the kind of singular intensity you expect from a program that’s been here before. Georgia doesn’t need any extra help - they’re already one of the most complete teams in the country - but Ole Miss might be handing them an edge anyway.
When you’re facing a team like Georgia, you can’t afford distractions. You can’t afford anything less than 100% commitment to the game plan, film study, and execution. And right now, some of the key minds behind Ole Miss’ success are being pulled in two directions.
That’s not a knock on their professionalism. It’s just the reality of trying to juggle two high-stakes jobs at once.
Recruiting for LSU while prepping for Georgia? That’s a tough balance, and Georgia’s staff - with no such split responsibilities - will be ready to exploit any lapse in preparation.
Kiffin’s Legacy, Georgia’s Opportunity
Thursday’s game will show whether this behind-the-scenes imbalance ends up making a difference on the field. But it’s hard to ignore how the timing of Kiffin’s move - and the way it’s being handled - could tilt the scales.
Kiffin wants Ole Miss to win. That much is clear. But in trying to do right by his former players and build his future at the same time, he may have unintentionally handed Georgia a key advantage at the most critical point in the Rebels’ season.
We’ll see how it plays out under the lights. But if Georgia comes out looking sharper, more prepared, and one step ahead - don’t be surprised if this coaching limbo is part of the reason why.