Paul Finebaum Names Prominent SEC Coach Who Was a ‘Bust’ in 2024 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has developed a College Football Playoff contender in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels have recorded 10 or more wins in three of the last four seasons, including a 10-3 record last year.
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Despite these impressive seasons, the Rebels have yet to qualify for the playoffs. Many believed last year presented their best opportunity, as ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) ranked them as the No. 5 team in the nation, even after suffering three losses.
Ultimately, Ole Miss finished the season ranked No. 14 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, narrowly missing a spot in the 12-team postseason tournament. On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” the SEC Network analyst remarked that Kiffin squandered a golden opportunity.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin.Matt Bush-Imagn Images
“I’m a big fan of Lane Kiffin, but that was a bust,” Finebaum said. “He had the best team that school has had in probably 60 years.”
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Ole Miss Loses Key Players from the 2024 Team
The upcoming season presents a significant opportunity for Ole Miss to make the playoff, but a major challenge awaits in replacing key players lost from last year’s roster.
The most notable departure is quarterback Jaxson Dart, who had an impressive season, throwing for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions, while completing 69.3% of his passes. His outstanding performance led to him being selected in the first round by the New York Giants in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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The defense faces substantial losses as well, returning only 45% of its production, which ranks 104th in the nation. This follows a strong season where the Rebels were ranked No. 14 in total defense, No. 2 in rush defense and No. 2 in scoring defense.
A key contributor to that defense, defensive tackle Walter Nolen, recorded 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks before being selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Additionally, Ole Miss will be without five of its top six sack leaders from last season.
Possible Star Emerging at QB Gives Ole Miss Fans Optimism
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons is expected to take over for Dart. Last year, Simmons passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns, completing 59.4% of his throws during limited playing time. A notable moment for him occurred during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
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Early in that game, Ole Miss trailed 7-0, and Dart was temporarily sidelined while being checked for an injury. During this time, Simmons entered the game for one drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 64 yards. He successfully led a drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown run by Ulysses Bentley IV.
In addition to the Georgia game, Simmons only threw five or more passes in the season opener against the Furman Paladins, where he passed for 111 yards and one touchdown, completing 43.8% of his attempts. Overall, Simmons did not show much mobility last year, as he rushed for only 14 yards, averaging 2.8 yards per carry.
Paul Finebaum Gives Ole Miss a ‘Real Shot’ at College Football Playoff
Despite key losses, Finebaum revealed that he is optimistic about the Rebels.
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“I think Ole Miss has a chance of being undefeated going to Georgia,” Finebaum previously said. “Now, I say that knowing Lane Kiffin has a propensity for blowing games early. If he can avoid that, I think he’s got a real shot at making the playoffs.”
Ole Miss is set to kick off its season against the Georgia State Panthers at 7:45 p.m. ET Aug. 30.
Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals How Much Longer Lane Kiffin Will Be at Ole Miss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
