In a week of high-stakes emotions and dramatic turns, Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin have each embarked on new chapters following their tumultuous separation. On Thursday, the former Rebels head coach found himself warmly welcomed at a women’s basketball game in Baton Rouge, marking his fresh start at Louisiana State University. Meanwhile, his erstwhile Ole Miss players were making headlines of their own, triumphing over the formidable No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, just 80 miles away in New Orleans.

The Rebels secured a thrilling victory with a nail-biting last-minute kick, bringing the final score to 39-34. This win not only improved their impressive record to 13-1 but also secured them a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. They are now set to face off against No. 10 Miami in the upcoming Fiesta Bowl on January 8 in Glendale, Arizona.

Kiffin’s dramatic exit from Ole Miss came on November 30, when he accepted a lucrative seven-year, $91 million offer to coach at LSU, just as Ole Miss was gearing up for its debut College Football Playoff appearance. Although Kiffin expressed a desire to guide the Rebels through the postseason, the school chose to part ways with him amidst widespread backlash.

In the wake of his departure, Kiffin has become something of a persona non grata in Oxford, Mississippi. However, his successor, former defensive coordinator Pete Golding, has stepped up admirably, steering the Rebels to victory against Tulane in the CFP and orchestrating the stunning upset against Georgia.

Despite the tensions surrounding Kiffin’s exit, rumors swirled that he might attend the Sugar Bowl. Reports from On3’s Chris Low suggested Kiffin had hoped to feature in ESPN’s broadcast, but the network appeared hesitant. When approached by the Daily Mail, an ESPN spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

Despite the criticism of Kiffin’s departure among Ole Miss fans, he was rumored to be attending the Sugar Bowl until Thursday morning. On3’s Chris Low reported Kiffin was hoping to appear on ESPN’s broadcast, but the network was reluctant to agree. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment on the situation when contacted by the Daily Mail.

Kewan Lacy #5 of the Ole Miss Rebels runs the ball after a catch against Elijah Griffin #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Sugar Bowl in New Orleans 

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey, right, brings head football coach Lane Kiffin out onto the court in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Baton Rouge

Harrison Wallace III #2 of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal

In the end, Kiffin opted to stay in Baton Rouge, where he and Lady Tigers coach Kim Mulker walked onto the court together, hand in hand. 

‘He was very gracious to come over here and let the LSU fans acknowledge him,’ Mulkey said after LSU fell 80-78 to SEC rival, Kentucky. ‘They have the [college football transfer] portal opening tomorrow, so I know he’s working. I appreciated him coming.’

Despite the friction between himself and Ole Miss, Kiffin still gave a shoutout to his former quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, who completed 30 of 46 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Kiffin kept it succinct and somewhat cryptic, simply posting the flag of Trinidad and Tobago on X. 

Ole Miss fans weren’t very receptive to the gesture. 

‘I bet you feel real stupid you f***ing idiot,’ one irate critic responded. 

Another added: ‘We didn’t need you.’  

Kiffin earned $9 million per season at Ole Miss, but defected to LSU for a seven-year deal that will pay him an average of $13 million a season while also getting assurances that the Tigers will have ample financial backing to pay for talent.

In his absence, Ole Miss’ historic seasons has continued without missing a beat, thanks to Lucas Carneiro go-ahead field goal with 6 seconds remaining. In an unusual twist, the Ole Miss was awarded a safety on its final kickoff when Georgia’s return team tried a cross-field lateral that hit the pylon.

Head coach Pete Golding of the Ole Miss Rebels walks onto the field after a Gatorade shower

Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss completed 30 of 46 passes for 362 yards and two TDs

In a cryptic show of support for Chambliss, Kiffin posted the Trinidad and Tobago flag

Luke Hasz #9 of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown with Trace Bruckler #85 during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs. Ole Miss now moves on to the semifinals 

Georgia then recovered an onside kick and ran one more play in which they executed numerous laterals before the play fizzled, sending Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) on to a semifinal against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.

Kicking off on the heels of two lopsided CFP quarterfinals at the Orange and Rose bowls, the Sugar Bowl provided drama until the end.

After seeing a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 to play, Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed) then rallied to tie it, first driving for Gunner Stockton’s 18-yard TD pass to Zachariah Branch before Peyton Woodring’s short field goal tied it with 55 seconds left in regulation.

Chambliss responded by setting up the winning kick with a 40-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling on third down from Mississippi’s own 30-yard line. A few plays later, Carneiro, who’d already broken Sugar Bowl records with field goals of 55 and 56 yards, hit from 47 and sprinted triumphantly toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) jubilantly swarmed around him.