Lane Kiffin is about to do something almost unheard of in college football this Saturday, and if you are not paying attention to No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 7 LSU, you are missing out. This isn’t just another top-10 game; Kiffin, now coaching LSU, is facing a top-10 Ole Miss squad he coached just last season. Get this: he is only the second head coach in AP Poll history to do something like that! The only other guy was Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Brown, way back in 1944 when he coached Great Lakes Navy against Ohio State.
Hollywood & History Collide in Oxford
ESPN’s “College GameDay” is rolling into Oxford, Miss., for this epic showdown, and they are bringing serious star power for the guest picker. Get ready for Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman to make his first appearance on the show. The Mississippi native, a Golden Globe winner and Grammy and Tony Award nominee, has been an Ole Miss fan for years. You can catch all the pre-game hype starting Saturday, Sept. 19, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. (6 a.m.-10 a.m. PT) on ESPN. This is the third time “College GameDay” has set up shop in Oxford, with the last time being in 2021 when Kiffin himself was the celebrity guest picker as Ole Miss’s head coach. Talk about a full circle moment!
This isn’t just a big game for Kiffin; it’s a huge moment for the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry. This marks the first AP top-10 matchup between these two since way back in 1962, when No. 6 Ole Miss took down No. 4 LSU in Death Valley. And get this, it’s only the second AP top-10 matchup ever played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The history here is absolutely wild, making the drama of Kiffin’s return even more intense. Wright Thompson is even dropping a report on the show about how the sentiment towards Kiffin has shifted from the optimism of 2020 when he first arrived to now, seeing him in purple and gold.
Saban’s Insights and a Sneak Peek
The “GameDay” desk will be stacked, with Rece Davis leading the charge for his 12th season, alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban. Plus, you have Pete Thamel, “Stanford Steve” Coughlin, Jen Lada, and Jess Sims keeping you informed. Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding is joining live on set, which is always a treat.
And speaking of Saban, his “GameDay Film Room” is back, and this week he’s breaking down how coach-to-quarterback radio communication has changed college football, giving Kiffin a shout-out for leading the way. Even better? “GameDay” is giving us an exclusive sneak peek at “SABAN,” the upcoming six-part ESPN Original series that drops Thursday, Oct. 8. Episode 1 airs at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN, and all six episodes will be available on the ESPN App. This series promises never-before-seen footage and interviews from Saban, Miss Terry Saban, and over 70 former players and coaches. It sounds like an absolute must-watch for any football fan.
This Saturday is gonna be electric. Make sure you tune in for No. 8 Ole Miss taking on No. 7 LSU at 6 a.m. PT on ESPN. You won’t wanna miss the drama unfolding in Oxford with Kiffin’s return, Morgan Freeman’s picks, and all the historic stakes on the line!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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