MARLER: Ole Miss is winning the breakup

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Chris Marler

This isn’t something I thought I’d say at any point after Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss, but Ole Miss is winning the breakup, so far.

So far really needs to be taken into account in that sentence.

Pete Golding is winning the breakup so far, and it’s not really close https://t.co/lxy9BybEOl

— Chris Marler (@Vern_Funquist) January 6, 2026

I tweeted that exact sentiment late Monday night after RB Kewan Lacy announced he would be returning to Ole Miss next season.

Ole Miss fans agreed and celebrated the tweet, LSU fans told me I was an idiot and being way too shortsighted. That probably should’ve been expected, but per usual I put my faith in social media responding with logic and reason like a total idiot.

Ole Miss is winning the breakup, and it’s not particularly close.

In a weird twist of irony the same assumptive arrogance that Brian Kelly had during his time at LSU may have been adopted by a lot of people in purple and gold. It made sense for Kelly to assume that he, one of the winningest coaches in the sport, would be successful at LSU. If Ed Orgeron could win a title there, of course he could, too. People around LSU probably felt the same way. I know I did. I still do.

After getting out of the Brian Kelly era and going through the tumultuous next month or so, the desperate need for optimism was rewarded when Kiffin was announced head coach on the last day of November.

I just thought it would’ve come a little easier and a little sooner. Part of that is because it’s still very early in the process. Like many in Baton Rouge, I assumed Kiffin was on his way, the Cinderella run would end at the Sugar Bowl, and then it would be game on.

That win in the Sugar Bowl threw a wrench in everything. Ole Miss stayed in the playoff, the assistant coaches had decisions to make and chaotic schedules to coordinate and some of the key pieces everyone assumed were headed to Baton Rouge decided to stay in Oxford.

Kewan Lacy is staying HOME in 2026.@kewanlacy22 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/RkvXRROOJj

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) January 6, 2026

We probably should’ve seen that coming, to be honest. The way this thing ended and the frustration, humiliation, resentment and outright anger wasn’t going to result in rolling over and accepting that Ole Miss would just go back to swimming in mediocrity like they did for most of the past six decades. The outcome was always going to be revenge, and often, the truest form of revenge is simply winning and being successful.

They’ve found both in the last 37 days since the man who brought their program up from the ashes left for greener pastures one state over. Sometimes in life, and in sports, you just have to tip your cap because you get beat. Barry Bonds struck out. Michael Jordan missed free throws. Hell, Justin Timberlake tried to beat box. Currently that’s what is happening between Ole Miss and LSU.