One Burning Question: Ole Miss Rebel Football

By Chris Marler

Lane Kiffin is getting a do-over, but will it make a difference? 

There’s a lot to love about Lane Kiffin’s tenure in Oxford, so far. Ole Miss is coming off back to back ten win seasons for the first time in 65 years. However, the season ended with mean tweets and a Taxslayer Gator Bowl victory, not the college football playoff. 

There’s a level of frustration from the fanbase after going 21-5 in the last two years. That speaks to how high the bar has been raised in Oxford because of Kiffin. However, it also speaks to the insecurity of a fanbase that has to be wondering will they ever get to the promised land again? 

The feat of back-to-back ten win seasons should not be diminished. However, there has to be some level of concern and wonder that if it didn’t happen last year how will it happen moving forward? Just think of all the things that were working for Ole Miss a season ago. 

The Rebels had the second easiest schedule in the conference. They got to play Georgia at home and avoided Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. They had a top ten roster in college football, the best quarterback in the SEC, and one of the best offensive minds in all of football at head coach. 

On top of all that, they finally had what was thought to be the missing piece – a defense. 

Ole Miss’ defense in Kiffin’s first year was ranked 117th in scoring defense, allowing 38.3 points per game. It began a narrative and feeling among most fans that if Ole Miss could just have a defense that was half as good as their offense, then they could compete with anyone. 

Fast forward to 2024: Pete Goulding and a defense full of transfer portal mercenaries had everything in place. The Rebels finished second in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 14.4 points per game. The only team ahead of them were the eventual national champions, Ohio State. 

Fast forward to 2025 and the expectations have continued to rise from a fanbase starving for something to put in the trophy case other than the Golden Egg. Ole Miss will not have an easier path to their goals than they did last year. That means something needs to be elevated along with the expectations. Whether that will be from the coach or the players is unknown. 

Regardless, the question for 2025 remains – Ole Miss is getting a do-over from 2024, but will it matter this time around?