The No. 8 Ole Miss football team kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive on Saturday with a hard-fought 34-26 victory over the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners. But after the final whistle, the conversation quickly shifted from the game itself to head coach Lane Kiffin, who was caught on live television exchanging words with a Sooners player.
As Kiffin walked toward his postgame interview, cameras picked up the 50-year-old coach engaging in some playful trash talk with a 19-year-old Oklahoma defender who had been chirping throughout the matchup. Before turning his attention back to the reporter, Kiffin could be heard saying, “This guy yelled at me during the game, like five times, telling me we couldn't score on 'em.”
Afterward, Kiffin explained the moment in his postgame press conference, as noticed by The New York Times, noting that it was simply part of his personality and that there was no bad blood involved. “That’s just me,” Kiffin said. “I mean, he was talking the whole game to me, and I did a good job I felt of not talking back, and he kept telling me you ain’t gonna score and all this, so … I didn’t go try to find him, he was just walking by so I just saw him so, that’s just kind of me. The guy’s a great player, man, I’m sure he’s really enjoyable to coach.”
The lighthearted moment followed a statement win for the Ole Miss football team. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 315 yards and a touchdown, while running back Kewan Lacy powered the offense with 78 rushing yards and two scores. The Rebels also leaned on their defense, which forced two turnovers and held Oklahoma to just six points in the fourth quarter.
Kiffin, known for his sharp wit and fiery sideline demeanor, has never shied away from showing emotion or humor in high-stakes moments. His exchange with the Oklahoma player added to his growing collection of viral moments that endear him to fans and frustrate his critics in equal measure.
Coming off back-to-back weeks in the national spotlight, Kiffin continues to juggle success on the field with persistent off-field chatter. Just last week, ESPN’s Molly McGrath reported that the coach planned to address ongoing rumors linking him to the Florida Gators’ vacancy directly with his team, a rare move for Kiffin, who typically ignores speculation. His message, she said, was about staying focused and viewing the rumors as “a compliment to our players, our staff, and our program.”
With the win over Oklahoma, Ole Miss improves to 7-1 on the season and remains in the thick of the SEC title and playoff race. As always with Kiffin, the Rebels’ journey is proving to be as entertaining off the field as it is on it.
