Without a game coach last week, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin called out Alabama for being good, reorganized his Instagram account, and as usual, made himself the center of attention.
Typical stuff for Joey Freshwater. Typically entertaining as hell. Viva more bye weeks for a certain loose-lipped man-child of a coach.
But here we are for Alabama week, and it must be noted: Kiffin’s career is at a crossroads. No, not another Saturday night tarmac massacre. This is potentially good stuff.
If Ole Miss beats Alabama — admittedly, it’s a big if — Kiffin’s career arc changes.
Kiffin would become the first former Nick Saban assistant to beat the legendary coach. The ledger for all those coaches currently stands at 0-23. Kiffin certainly gets an “atta boy” for running Saban and the Crimson Tide through a ringer last year before a 63-48 loss in Oxford, Mississippi, so there’s that.
Kiffin would become the favorite for the open USC job, at least for a large swath of the school’s I-110 alumni. (Think of the West Coast version of “T-shirt alumni” in the South who “pull” for a school without having attended said institution.) Those Trojans fans are legion, and they are loud. Remember, they beat the drum for Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian in the past. They also helped run Clay Helton out of a job last month. Do not ignore their influence. Besides, Hollywood loves sequels. This one would be significant. Call it “From Tarmac To Triumph”.
Not saying it’s going to happen — the USC search could turn seven different directions before it’s done — but consider the implications. How many coaches at a Power Five school have gotten a second chance at the same school eight years apart before the age of 47? Pretty sure that list would begin and end with Kiffin.
Kiffin would get the metaphorical silver spoon surgically removed from his mouth. For those of you who believe Monte Kiffin’s son was born on third base and thought he hit a triple, listen up. This is the potential inflection point for the Boy King.
This would the moment he turns legit in the eyes of skeptics who watched him become Oakland Raiders coach at age 31, Tennessee coach (for one year) at 34 and USC coach at age 35. A segment of coaches have been sneering behind Kiff’s back for years, jealous of those opportunities.
Beat Alabama, and Kiffin is no longer Boy King. He will have matured before our eyes despite some sparring this week with Michael Wilbon, who called Kiffin “a clown”.
Kiffin would make Ole Miss arguably the favorite in the SEC West. I can’t believe I’m writing those words, but that must be a consideration. The No. 12 Rebels are that good, ranked for the first time since 2016. The defense has improved massively since finishing second-to-last in the country in 2020. The schedule is somewhat favorable going forward with Ole Miss getting No. 8 Arkansas, No. 15 Texas A&M and LSU at home.
Kiffin would help Matt Corral become the early Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Ole Miss’ quarterback might be that already. An upset of Alabama isn’t happening without Corral having something resembling the game of his life. Through three games, the Southern California product is in the top 10 nationally in passing yards and pass efficiency. No other Power Five QB has thrown more touchdowns (nine) without an interception.
The Heisman hype is major news even if is only a quarter of the way through the season. There is a reason Kiffin unfollowed all his Instagram followers but one. New Orleans QB prospect Arch Manning is the Next Big Manning to emerge from the first family of football. Arch is the son of Cooper, who is brothers with Peyton and Eli. Those three, of course, are the offspring of Archie Manning.
We’ll do the math for you if you haven’t connected the dots. Arch attends the same Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans as his uncles Eli and Peyton. Archie and Eli played at Ole Miss. This is likely Corral’s last season. Arch is the No. 5 rated player — No. 1 quarterback — in the Class of 2023, according to the 247Sports Composite.
This isn’t Kiffin offering David Sills IV as an eighth grader. Ole Miss has a chance to land a program-changer if only based on his last name. 247Sports lists the Rebels along with Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and LSU as the other favorites. A win over Alabama does not hurt Ole Miss’ chances.
We always knew Kiffin could recruit. This is a week Kiffin’s “act” never gets old. Maybe he is growing up before our eyes. Since 2014, he has remade himself as a coach.
It was Kiffin who oversaw Alabama’s transition to the spread offense seven years ago. He dutifully took that success and spent three years toiling at FAU, winning two conference titles.
The difference these days? When Kiffin opens his mouth, it’s something more than a sideshow. If he beats Saban, it will be time to enjoy the show.
