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OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin isn’t shying away from the magnitude of the upcoming game.
No. 12 Ole Miss will host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC). The Rebels (7-2, 3-2 SEC) have yet to beat a ranked opponent, and defeating Georgia (7-1, 5-1) would be a signature win.
Tickets are going quickly. “SEC Nation,” SEC Network’s weekly traveling show, will broadcast live from Ole Miss at The Grove at 9 a.m. CT. Kiffin is leaning into the hype surrounding the game.
“This is the test of all tests,” he said. “This is the premier program in college football, what Alabama used to be, and (coach) Kirby (Smart)’s done an amazing job. I think since 2021, they’re 49-0 besides three losses to a team named Alabama.”
Georgia has scored at least 30 points in all but one game this season. Even though the Bulldogs lost to Alabama 41-34 in late September, their track record and national championships in 2021 and 2022 are enough for Kiffin to proclaim them as Alabama’s successor.
The Bulldogs also haven’t lost two games in a season since 2020. Their 52-17 domination of Ole Miss last season, when they rushed for 300 yards, caused Kiffin to shake up his team-building approach: The Rebels brought in the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class in the country.
“That game didn’t go over very well a year ago,” Kiffin said. “But every game, season is independent and different. I think we’re in a better place, but these guys [Georgia] get the best high school players every year, (and) got more draft picks than anybody else because they do a great job recruiting and great job of developing the players once they’re there.”
The Rebels’ College Football Playoff hopes remain, but they are in a tenuous position. If they are to make the expanded 12-team field, they cannot afford another loss.
“I told our players, you still have [the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-ole-miss-footballs-lane-234819339.html
Author : The Clarion Ledger
Publish date : 2024-11-04 23:48:19
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