Lane Kiffin did *not* hold back after LSU’s 32-24 loss to Ole Miss last Saturday, straight up telling reporters the Rebels’ victory was “their Super Bowl.” This isn’t just typical Kiffin bravado, it’s a direct shot at his former program and exactly how hyped this revenge game truly was, especially after he left Ole Miss for LSU last season right before the College Football Playoff.
Kiffin’s Super Bowl Jab and What It Really Means
When Kiffin made that “Super Bowl” comment on Wednesday, he was totally stirring the pot, but let’s be real, he’s not entirely wrong. Ole Miss and its fans absolutely had this game circled all year. Kiffin himself tried to downplay the loss by asking reporters, “If it wasn’t for the name, Ole Miss, and if it was more of a traditional name that we were playing, we hadn’t coached at before, how would everybody be feeling if, in your third game of your first year of a program, you went to Ohio State and came all the way back?” He pointed out that LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt “didn’t play very well,” while Ole Miss’s QB “played lights out.” Kiffin even joked that the Ole Miss signal-caller would be a Heisman winner after three games. It’s clear Kiffin sees the whole thing as an overhyped moment for the Rebels, but it highlights just how much energy was in that stadium.
Walking Into a Storm: How the Rebels Got Their Bragging Rights
This wasn’t just any regular season game. ESPN’s College GameDay was there, security was ramped up by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium set a new college football attendance record with 70,033 fans. Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss was filled with drama, as he wanted to coach them through the CFP but wasn’t allowed, instead watching his old team reach the semifinals from afar after taking the LSU job. The crowd let him have it from the jump. Kiffin admitted his team “walked into a storm,” and it showed when Ole Miss jumped out to a huge 24-7 lead in the first half. To LSU’s credit, they didn’t quit, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half to tie the game at 24. But then Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took over, finishing a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a winning 14-yard touchdown run. When Ole Miss picked off Leavitt on the next possession, the stadium exploded in celebration, and yeah, it looked like some Ole Miss players were doing a little trolling too.
Kiffin might have been doing his own trolling with the “Super Bowl” comment, but right now, the bragging rights absolutely belong to the Rebels. Things aren’t getting any easier for LSU, either. They’ve still got brutal games ahead against Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. They’ve gotta learn fast from this one and figure out how to finish strong in high-pressure situations, or this early loss will haunt them big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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