Things got strange for Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss last season when they were left out of the playoffs despite a 10-3 record. After that, Kiffin sarcastically blasted the College Football Playoff committee’s format, especially following SMU’s blowout loss to Penn State. He also faced some counter-trolls for his remarks. But the Rebels HC has consistently stood by his team no matter what. His journey, which began with him moving to Oxford for his daughter Landry, evolved into a realization that “I needed Oxford a lot more than it needed me,” culminating in a full-circle moment when he turned down a move to the NFL. But now, it seems the initial excitement around Kiffin might be fading….

SEC insiders Mike and Cousin Shane are offering a blunt assessment: Lane needs to commit fully and get serious, or the Rebels risk slipping back into the middle tier of the SEC. This conversation began with how sweet Ole Miss’s schedule looks this year, packed with eight home games. Mike from The SEC Football Podcast broke it down, listing all those Oxford matchups—Georgia State, Arkansas, Tulane, LSU, Washington State, Citadel, Florida, and South Carolina. Playing all those games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium has got to be a huge advantage for the Rebels. Less travel, more practice time, and home crowd vibes.

However, Cousin Shane doesn’t see this as entirely positive for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels, offering a stark prediction: “There’s got to be some unsuccessful programs in 2025. And we’re talking about one right here. The success is all in the eye of the beholder, because 8–4 would be a great season for Mississippi State. Eight and four would be a great year for Vanderbilt Commodores. It will not be for Ole Miss because of the standards Lane Kiffin’s created. But that’s exactly where they’re going to land this year—8–4.”

Mike echoes this sentiment: “I got Ole Miss 8–4 too. And again, that’s below average for Ole Miss. I think you said it perfectly. But I think the over/under is pretty telling at 8.5. I don’t know. Now this could be a true test, Shane. Could it be that without all the offseason hype and the hoopla and the Last Dance, all that garbage—Kiffin seems very relaxed these days—but will that pay off? I don’t know, because I thought maybe he was a little tight last year.” According to Mike, Lane Kiffin might need to adopt a more aggressive approach to make a significant impact. But Lane Kiffin’s perspective seems to have shifted….

While he once chased glory, his five years at Ole Miss have brought a new focus: peace over accolades. “Now, I just want to be a really good neighbor, dad, brother, co-worker, and boss. I look at life completely differently.” He attributes this change to Mississippi’s slower pace, the influence of his late father, Monte Kiffin, and even a past relationship ending. “People slow down, and they have an appreciation for what they have, instead of always chasing,” he says. “That has really hit me.”

This doesn’t mean Kiffin has been inactive this offseason. Ole Miss has already secured 23 commits for the year, ranking 12th in the SEC and 19th nationally for the 2025 recruitment class. Furthermore, Kiffin is navigating a new chapter without star quarterback Jaxson Dart, with Austin Simmons stepping into the role, aiming to maintain the Rebels’ competitiveness. On3’s Andy Staples suggests Simmons could be a breakout player, writing, “QB Austin Simmons might be the best new starter this season, and if he is, then I have Ole Miss too low.”

Staples also notes, “Lane Kiffin has raised the floor for the Rebels so much that this kind of preseason ranking probably feels like a disappointment. It would have felt like a compliment for most of the program’s history. But if this is where your team is when it’s ‘rebuilding,’ then your program is in a very healthy place.” Despite ranking Ole Miss 19th in his post-spring top 25, Staples believes they are poised for a strong season. Maybe Kiffin’s apparent calmness might stem from this underlying confidence.

Lane Kiffin acknowledges the intense reality of the SEC

During his appearance on the This Past Weekend podcast, the Ole Miss head coach didn’t hold back when discussing the SEC. Having coached in the NFL, Kiffin described the SEC as a unique challenge. “There’s a saying in the SEC they coined, like, ‘It just means more.’ And it really does,” Kiffin said. “The passion in the towns for the football programs, the attention on it, and really, the play over time has been dominant. The SEC has had more draft picks, more championships, all those things. It’s just different. It’s a way of life down here.”

Kiffin’s tenure at Ole Miss boasts a strong 21-5 record over two seasons, including consecutive bowl victories. The program has thrived under his leadership, although a playoff berth has remained elusive. Last year’s loss to Florida cost them a shot, but Kiffin feels strong fan support. The enthusiasm in Oxford isn’t diminishing; it’s growing, reflecting the faith in the team and Kiffin. He contrasted this with his experience in the Big Ten (at USC).

Drawing a comparison, Lane Kiffin highlighted the stark differences between his time in the SEC and the Big Ten. “I was the head coach at USC. You spend time out in LA. It’s just a different world out there,” Kiffin said. “I remember, I was walking through campus, and I was like, ‘Man, I bet, like, 50, 70% of these students have no idea who I am. I’m the head coach of the football team. They got no idea who I am.’ They’re just going to school at USC, getting their education.”

This was never his experience in Oxford. “Here, like 100% know who you are… You go to walk downtown, and a four-year-old is like, ‘Coach Kiffin!’ They know who you are.” This level of recognition brings pressure, but also fuels him. He understands what the program means to the community—and what the community expects in return. Ole Miss has clearly impacted Kiffin, not just welcoming him but making him feel like family, even making his pet team mascot, Juice Kiffin. This still resonates deeply with him.

Now, as Lane Kiffin leads Ole Miss into a new season, all eyes are on whether he can finally guide the Rebels to the playoffs. Hype aside, he remains a highly talented coach!