After weeks of Lane Kiffin’s name being tossed around Gainesville, Saturday in Oxford got off to a weird start long before the whistle even blew for kickoff. The atmosphere at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was absolutely electric, maybe a little too electric. A group of Florida Gators players ended up going back and forth verbally with the Ole Miss student section.

On November 15th, Florida Gators insiders hopped onto X and shared the feud video: “A group of Gators, including DJ Lagway and Caleb Banks, are going back and forth with some fans nearly 90 minutes before Florida takes on Ole Miss.” According to the video, DJ Lagway and defensive lineman Caleb Banks, getting into a heated verbal spat with some loud-and-proud Ole Miss fans right next to the field. This happened a good hour and a half before the game even started, and naturally, it was all caught on video and went totally viral.

So, what exactly lit the fuse? All signs point to the massive coaching drama that’s been circling all week. For those who lived under a rock, the word on the street is that Florida is targeting none other than Ole Miss’s own head coach, Lane Kiffin, to take them to the glory land.

Makes sense. Kiffin finally took that leap of faith here in Mississippi, leading the No. 6 Rebels to a fantastic 9-1 record this season. Fans love him, and the last thing they want is the Gators swooping in to steal their guy. It’s a classic case of modern college football chaos, where the coaching carousel creates real-world tension between fan bases.

This whole coaching rumor mill created an incredibly awkward and intriguing backdrop for the game itself. You can bet those Ole Miss fans weren’t just greeting the players with a friendly “Welcome to Mississippi!” They were probably shouting about Kiffin leaving, trying to rage-bait and get under the Gators’ skin. If that’s the case, then it’s working.

Florida’s team has had a rough 3-6 season, and Lagway has faced his own demons now. Even getting benched last week against Kentucky after his second hat-trick picks of the season. Safe to say, they are a bit of a mess right now, and the rumors about their future coach haven’t exactly helped team morale or focus. Their interim coach even mentioned trying to keep the team from “splintering”.

The bad blood might also be a carryover from last year. Ole Miss hasn’t forgotten how Florida derailed their playoffs hopes with a 24-17 win last season. Rebels wideout Cayden Lee admitted they went into that game “a little too confident”. This year, the tables are turned, and Ole Miss is the bullies this year. The whole pre-game scuffle just shows that when pride, big expectations, and wild coaching rumors collide, the intensity boils over fast. And that’s what makes the SEC worth watching. To make it more entertaining, the funniest man in the South walked alongside Lane Kiffin entering the field.

Lane Kiffin and Theo Von collab

Theo Von was back roaming around SEC country on Saturday, and at this point, it’s clear he’s fully addicted to college football. The comedian showed up in Oxford ahead of Ole Miss’ primetime matchup and immediately became part of the show. As Lane Kiffin stepped off the team bus for his traditional walk into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Theo was already there waiting, bouncing around in full Theo Von fashion.

Kiffin and Von greeted each other with a quick hug before the walk truly began. Usually, Kiffin is the one cracking jokes or firing off one-liners, but this time he played the straight man while the comedian soaked up the moment. Fans lining the walkway went crazy for the duo, cheering as Theo put on a full comedy routine while walking alongside the Ole Miss head coach.

No one knows where Theo Von will pop up next during the 2025 season, just two weeks ago, he was at the Vanderbilt game, but if this weekend proved anything, it’s that he’s making the SEC his personal playground.