Ole Miss Faces College Football Playoff Uncertainty After Lane Kiffin’s Departure

The Ole Miss Rebels, fresh off an 11-1 season, find themselves in uncharted waters as head coach Lane Kiffin departs for LSU. Despite a near-perfect record and competitive performances against top SEC teams, questions now loom over the Rebels’ place in the College Football Playoff (CFP).

Ole Miss’s lone loss came on the road against SEC powerhouse Georgia, a game in which the Rebels held a fourth-quarter lead before ultimately falling 43-35. Beyond the scoreboard, the sudden coaching changes have injected uncertainty into how the CFP selection committee might view the program.

College football analyst Josh Pate, speaking on Bussin’ With The Boys, noted that the committee may factor in staff departures when assessing team strength. “You want a real chaos scenario — Ole Miss is sitting there as the projected seven seed right now,” Pate said. “Coaching staff leaves…there is this world where the committee looks at Ole Miss and says, ‘Sorry, guys.’ That’s chaos.”

This scenario, while rare, is amplified under the CFP’s 12-team format introduced last season. A top-tier team losing key coaching personnel could shift perceptions and create ripple effects throughout the playoff field.

1. CFP Rankings and Shifting Perceptions

Since the CFP rankings began on Nov. 4, Ole Miss has hovered between the sixth and seventh positions. A ranking shuffle saw the Rebels drop behind Texas Tech on Nov. 11, regain ground following Alabama’s loss, and ultimately fall to seventh behind Oregon in the latest rankings. The committee’s evaluation process is influenced not only by wins and losses but also by program stability. Kiffin’s departure, along with the offensive staff’s exodus, raises questions about continuity and the team’s ability to perform at the same level in the postseason. Analysts suggest that even two-loss teams could leapfrog Ole Miss if the committee perceives instability, including No. 8 Oklahoma, which lost to the Rebels, No. 9 Notre Dame, and No. 10 Alabama, who will face Georgia in the SEC title game. In an extreme scenario, even a 9-3 Texas team that recently upset undefeated No. 3 Texas A&M could make the playoff at Ole Miss’s expense. The stakes illustrate how small margins and external factors, such as coaching changes, can dramatically influence playoff positioning in the expanded 12-team format.

2. Ole Miss’s Strengths and Adjustments

Despite the uncertainty, the Rebels still boast an impressive resume. Wins over Oklahoma and Tulane rank among the CFP’s Top 25 victories, while their loss to Georgia is widely considered a “quality loss.” The team also demonstrated resilience throughout the season, competing at a high level against elite opponents. Following Kiffin’s departure, defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to head coach. His leadership will be tested as Ole Miss navigates both the immediate challenge of postseason play and the longer-term task of stabilizing the program. The Rebels’ roster remains talented, but the committee may weigh the new coaching configuration alongside previous accomplishments. The perception of leadership and program stability could influence the final playoff seed, even with a sterling record on the field. With the penultimate CFP rankings set to release tonight and the final selection on Sunday, Ole Miss and its fans await clarity on how the committee will balance success against recent upheaval.

3. Looking Ahead to the Playoff

The final CFP rankings will determine whether Ole Miss secures a spot among the 12 teams competing for a national championship. How the committee evaluates coaching changes could be pivotal in deciding the Rebels’ postseason fate. Even with potential volatility, Ole Miss remains a formidable team with strong wins and competitive matchups throughout the season. Their ability to adapt under Golding’s leadership will be key in the weeks ahead. The SEC’s competitive nature ensures that every matchup, and every external factor, carries weight in playoff considerations. For Ole Miss, maintaining focus on execution and preparation will be essential regardless of committee deliberations. As the CFP selection unfolds, the Rebels’ experience underscores how leadership transitions can influence perceptions, adding another layer of complexity to college football’s postseason landscape.