Lane Kiffin Sounds Off on Contract Extension, Emphasizes 'Commitment' to Ole Miss
The No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels are officially in bowl week as the team arrived in Atlanta over the Christmas holiday for the upcoming Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions.
Last week, the Rebels and head coach Lane Kiffin announced that they had reached an agreement on a contract extension, further solidifying the work that has been accomplished in Oxford during his tenure. The 2023 season marks the second 10-win regular season in school history and the second in the last three years, both of which have come under Kiffin.
Nov 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (right) talks with defensive back Daijahn Anthony (3) prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
The coach was made available to the media via Zoom on Tuesday ahead of the Peach Bowl, and he discussed the impact of the contract extension on his mindset, namely his commitment to the future of Ole Miss football.
"I'm very grateful to be hired here in the first place four seasons ago and to get an extension," Kiffin said, "which didn't change any financial part of the situation, just added length and commitment that this is where we want to be and commitment from the university. So just really pleased to be part of that.
"Very grateful for our staff, for our leadership here and our players. They've done amazing to win 10 games two of the last three seasons. I think of where it was when I got here and where it is now and what's going on in recruiting that will lead to next year is really amazing just to be a part of."
Still, Kiffin knows this bowl game and even the contract extension aren't about him as an individual. They're about program building and having the chance to do something that Ole Miss has never seen before: win 11 games in a single season.
If the Rebels can achieve that feat heading into next year's expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, they will certainly be a preseason favorite to be a part of that field. Until then, Kiffin has one more game with this year's special team, and that's where his focus lies.
"Excited to watch these guys play one more game," Kiffin said.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPN.
