TRANSCRIPT: Everything Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said after Ole Miss defeated Georgia, 28-10

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss football defeated Georgia, 28-10, Saturday in arguably the biggest game of Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss career. After the win, the Rebels’ head coach spoke with media.

Here’s everything he had to say.

Lane Kiffin’s Opening Statement

Alright, so really happy for our university. Whatever, five years ago, when we came here and I thought about it this week, and had been coming off of four non-winning seasons here. And Chancellor and Keith made a decision to bring us here, and a lot of really good things have happened. But there’s not been a signature game like this, and been close, you know, when Alabama was here and all that. So, just really happy because I know we’ve been close with games and for our fans, for them to be able to enjoy this and that’s a great Georgia team. They’ve won, outside Alabama, 51 straight games against people since Covid.

So, just happy for our players too, to play that way in what ends up kind of being dominant. You know, to win by three scores is a lot of people doing a lot of things right. And this game started a year ago when these guys beat us like that and we made a decision to go to the portal, got some guys to come back, not go to the draft and, for really a lot, for this game. And a number of those guys said it this week that this is why they came here was for this game to play Georgia. So it’s a long year and a lot of off season film work by the coaches to plan for this game. It didn’t just start this week. So just really happy for a lot of people.

Media: Does the 24-hour rule still apply even with the bye week?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I mean for me it won’t — for them probably. But, we got a lot of work to do. We put ourselves in position now, not just with beating Georgia, you know, but beating them like that, that put ourselves in position to be in the playoffs, so I’m not worried about the rankings and all that. That will work itself out.

We’ve got two more games to play and need to go win those two games to put us in that position. So, I told them really three weeks ago when the LSU game, when we screwed up at the end, and have control of the whole game down there and don’t win, I said, ‘okay, now you just basically put yourself in the playoffs. You’re (in effect) gonna have to win every week.’ So that’s been four games. So we’ve had to win every week, and I said it to them this week: The playoffs to me were going to go through Georgia, you know, if you’re going to win it. And it’s a different system, now 12 teams are going to make it. 11 are going to lose their last game. So you’re gonna have to play them at some point. So I told them you actually have home field advantage. You’re in the playoffs with home field advantage for the first round or third round.

Media: It looked pretty bad there for Jaxson early with that injury. What can you say about just his his toughness and ability to to grind through that game.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I told them when losses happen in life — and I had a major one this summer — and you don’t know why things happen, you can’t figure them out at the time. And, maybe those two losses, the way we screwed those games up, you know, there was a reason. So that they would go through things. They’d have adversity today, which there was major adversity. We throw a pick, we get them to fourth down, they score a touchdown. It looks like our quarterback’s out, you know. So that’s not a real good start — to get the ball first and two possessions in be down 7-0 to Georgia without your quarterback. So really glad how they handled that adversity. They gave up three points the rest of the day. Austin Simmons did a great job coming in, and like we told him, ‘hey, we’re going to run the game plan. We’re going to throw with you. You’re not going to be one of these backup quarterbacks where you just hand it off.’  And he did a great job. And I didn’t know Jaxson was going to come back in. And Jaxson did some medical things and came back and said, ‘I’m going in.’ So he went back in.

Media: Lane, 24 sacks over the last three games. You held Georgia to only 59 rushing yards. The defensive front has just been dominating for you the last couple of games.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah that doesn’t really happen when you put Georgia in that sentence very often. So that’s a credit to Coach Golding and the staff. That’s why we brought him here, for games like this, and he showed up. They showed up. I mean, to be at the end of the game and they’re throwing screens to stay away from our rush is pretty cool. That’s a lot of guys doing things right and showing up. And it was great again for the last couple of weeks to have Princely back, who we didn’t have in that LSU game.

Media: Lane, I was wondering if you could elaborate on what you were saying a minute ago about when Jaxson got hurt. What were you told by the doctors? And then when Austin came in, what were you thinking as that drive unfolded? Because obviously that was a huge momentum turn in the game.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I can’t really discuss the doctor’s conversations there, but it didn’t look good to me. The way he limped off, the way he — you know we have the iPads now so I can see him on the last throw, try to throw, try to move — So I kind of thought he was done. So I talked to Austin right away before we even went on defense, because what I saw, it looked really bad. He could barely get to the sideline. I said to Austin, ‘Get ready, go warm up. We’re going to run the same calls with you.’ Kind of shows our confidence in the first play to run a naked bootleg and let him throw on the first play against Georgia. That guy’s done a great job in practice and it showed up today.

Media: I know the offensive line has been through a lot this year, and they only gave up one sack the entire game. And that was basically for 58 consecutive minutes.

Lane Kiffin: I think the offensive line has done a good job in the last few weeks in pass protection. So they had to do it today. You know, I don’t know if it was a secret watching, but we kind of said it’s going to be really tough to run the ball. Our starting running back was out, and we’ve struggled to run the ball and, and they’re really big and long. So we called a lot of pass plays on purpose today and a lot of controlled passing to try to say, okay, that’s going to be our extended run game because those are tough matchups in there.

Media: Do you feel like having to be in playoff mode these last three games, including tonight, do you feel like that was an advantage for y’all to have to kind of be as focused and locked in?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, like I told them, sometimes things happen and you don’t know why. And you know that put our backs against the wall. And a lot of people, when your back’s against the wall, fight a little different. And probably knowing that, they got rid of that cushion. You know what you think about today, like had we won those today, they may have come into this week in this game like, ‘hey, it’d be good to beat Georgia, but we don’t really have to because you know, we’ll still be in the playoffs.’ So sometimes when your back is against the wall, you fight harder.

Media: Lane, earlier you said teams don’t beat Georgia like this. When you configured this roster, did you have these kinds of outcomes in mind with the talented group of guys that you have?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I don’t know that I would have pictured it without Tre Harris, the best receiver in the country today. But guys stepped up. Jaxson made really good throws. Austin, and then Cayden Lee’s winning in man to man coverage against great cover people. So yeah, I can’t say I pictured a three-score win, but this is why we put it all together to win this game.

Media: I know the game just finished and it hasn’t been that long, but just what are the emotions like for you right now, given everything that you’ve been through and this team has been through?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I think I kind of get lost in the game sometimes, so I don’t really get all that till later. Like, poor Kyle (Campbell), I was yelling at him for the fans being on the field when there’s still clock on. So I was still coaching and so, I don’t know…I kind of had a moment when she asked me on camera about the game, and I was good with all that. But when she said, ‘How about your quarterback, Jaxson, when he battled back?’ and Jaxson had just walked by and said, ‘I love you, coach,’ on the last play. And he’s just an awesome kid and to get hurt like that, and I’m like, ‘Are you sure?’ And he’s like, ‘yeah, it’ll be just like the Peach Bowl. It’s the same injury, same type of feeling, I’ll be able to do it. Just can’t run perimeter very well and I’ll find a way.’ So, it’s a really cool, cool group of kids. And he led this thing. I said it in the off season, he led getting these guys all together and like a coach. So just really happy for him, coming off of last week of shattering those records and then today to just get a gritty performance like he did. It’s really, really awesome to watch.

Media: What did you see from the receiving group as a whole? It was more of a complete game from all the receivers. So what’s your take on their their day?

Lane Kiffin: And again, they’re playing without the best receiver in the country and they they did a great job. They made plays, significant plays. You know you got a fourth and two that gets converted, where again that’s kind of where we used to run. And in this game plan, we threw it. And they beat guys that are really good in man to man. And guys that are going to play in the NFL. So just really proud of them.

Media: Coach you mentioned this was a great atmosphere and it was a great win for the fan base. Just kind of talk about the atmosphere, what that meant to you guys, the fan base sticking out through the rain and everything like that and just being behind you throughout the game. What did that mean to the team?

Lane Kiffin: You know, it’s interesting you say that because I remember in warmups in Georgia and I remember, and I even said it to Kyle, I’m like, ‘Man, I wish our place was like that in warm ups.’ I mean, when we were at Georgia, it was rocking 30 minutes before the game, and today I felt the exact same way. We were in warm ups, they were playing videos, the crowd was into it on the introductions of guys and stuff, and I look up, it’s still whatever, 25, 30 minutes till the game. So it was really cool to to have that. And it’s great for the players. They feel like it’s a big-time game, you know when when the fans are there early like that. So, and then Kyle had us not do the Walk (of Champions) because he said there was rain coming — and it didn’t rain during the Walk. So maybe the fans are more excited to see us because they didn’t see us on the Walk. So maybe there’s something to that. That’s Kyle’s idea.

Media: You mentioned the fans. They got their money’s worth today. They actually got to storm the field twice. Have you ever been a part of something like that, and do they maybe need a video or a class as to how to storm the field in a big win like that?

Lane Kiffin: It might be two fines, Keith, because they actually stormed it twice and that money goes to Georgia because we got LSU’s money. I mean, I don’t know. They were excited. They were passionate. I wish they would have waited. But, sometimes I don’t think they know that it was fourth down and the clock stops, so it is what it is, but awesome environment. Just excited. I’m sure that this party in the ‘SIP here will go on for definitely over 24 hours.

Media: Coach, after an up and down start to the season, blow out win over Arkansas, blow out over Georgia at home. You feel like this team has found its identity and this is the type of football that they’re playing to their true potential as you head into the end of the season and then the playoffs?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, but again, you got to do it every week. You know, every week things change. And we got to get healthy, get Tre back for this run here. But I definitely think our identity is showing, being a dominant defense at times that just shuts people down and a really good passing team. We were number one in the country in passing coming into the game. And again, that’s the last two and a half, now three and a half, games I think without Tre.

Media: You said you were in coaching mode, which makes sense when you’re in the middle of the game. But, I’m just wondering if you could contextualize not only how big this game is and this win is for this season, but what does this do for a program, especially in, you know, the changing times where a win like this, everyone sees it and rosters change every year and things like that/

Lane Kiffin: Probably more than I’m thinking about, like you said in the moment, I mean, it’s Georgia, man. Like I said, they’re (coaches) on the headset and they’re like, ‘Well, maybe they’re just going to run the ball.’ I’m like, ‘Georgia ain’t going out like that.’ We got to finish this thing. So that’s why we even kicked the field goal to go up three scores to make sure that we could knock them out of it because, you know, that they basically been the champs of college football for years. And, you got to you got to be able to do that. So I probably haven’t done whatever that big word was you said.

Media: Caden kicking today, kind of outstanding. What can you say about him just nailing that shot from wherever it was on the field?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, the long one was huge earlier. And then the last ones were big, too, you know, because analytics are kind of like, you’re kind of torn there. What to do? So just made sure and told the holder if it’s a bad snap, Go down because you can’t get this thing blocked and returned for a touchdown. That was the only way we can lose right there, and he came through. And good holds too.

Media: JJ Pegues at one point came out of the game. He was injured, went to the locker room. Then he came back. He’s run the football, we were actually waiting to see if he would throw the football too. He’s done everything for you. He’s been a great player for you this year. Just curious as your thoughts on Pegues and what he means to the program.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I think when he goes down and he went down and he had to go get an x ray, it just shows you how valuable he is because he’s a d-tackle and we’re scrambling because he’s in like five different personnels on offense that he’s in. Because he blocks as a tight end, he runs, he plays fullback. And so when we had to go rearrange all that when he was down, it makes you realize how valuable he is. And especially short yardage against Georgia as you saw. Like people struggle in short yardage against those guys. So that’s why we turned to him when we had one early. I think he made seven yards or something.

Media: Not a ton of time for this to sink in, but you kind of alluded to your dad a little earlier. Has he been on your mind at all this week, or I guess especially in these 30 minutes after the win?

Lane Kiffin: Yeah. I know he’s watching and he loved these type of games and big games. And I thought about him a lot this week, and I was like, ‘Man, if we win this thing, like, he’ll be so happy,’ because he was always like, last year after that (loss), he’s like, ‘Hey, hey, we’re gonna get this turned around.’ I remember him saying after the game, ‘We’re gonna get this thing turned around, and you’re going to beat Georgia next year.’ And it was really kind of…We beat them in his style. Great defense, dominant defensive performance, some kind of mushy offense and field goals. And so, he’s happy about that performance.

Media: Lane, you’ve been around great defenses. You coached against them. Any way to quantify as a coach when you have the kind of depth and talent you guys have up front now, how much easier it makes a pathway to playing for and competing for a championship, because I know that’s what you guys want to do.

Lane Kiffin: Yeah, I mean, that was part of the deal a year ago. And knowing what that looks like, knowing what, you know, 34 straight wins at USC, 26 straight wins at Alabama — the last 26 games, I think I was there. So I’ve seen what it looks like and it doesn’t look like just front line premier defensive players. And you saw that today. When guys go in, here goes the next one. And here goes Zay (Zxavian) Harris goes in and makes an unbelievable play on the fumble, so that’s what we’ve tried to build to get that. A little more challenging maybe here in the new age where you got to go portal to do that. But then at the same time, too, you got some high school players like Zay in there that stayed home and, you know, are reaping the benefits now.