X

CFB

    Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Ripped by CFB Fans for Loss to Napier, Florida Amid CFP Push

    Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IINovember 23, 2024

    GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin during the game between the Florida Gators and the Mississippi Rebels on November 23, 2024 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
    David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    Ole Miss' push for the College Football Playoff took a death blow Saturday after a 24-17 road loss to unranked Florida on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville.

    Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Quarterback DJ Lagway threw for 180 yards and two scores.

    Lagway found Elijah Badger for an eight-yard score to cap an 11-play, 89-yard drive and give Florida a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter following the PAT.

    Florida Gators Football @GatorsFB

    A DIME FROM <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekLagway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DerekLagway</a> <br><br>📺 ABC <a href="https://t.co/bZDYRSTc4K">pic.twitter.com/bZDYRSTc4K</a>

    Ole Miss responded with Jaxson Dart touchdown tosses to Tre Harris and Cayden Lee for 43 and 24 yards, respectively, for a 14-7 edge.

    Ole Miss Football @OleMissFB

    Welcome Back Tre 👋<a href="https://twitter.com/_treharris13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_treharris13</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HottyToddy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HottyToddy</a> <a href="https://t.co/SqTZQTY6Kw">pic.twitter.com/SqTZQTY6Kw</a>

    Ole Miss Football @OleMissFB

    Hit that cellyyyy Cayden 🕺<a href="https://twitter.com/Cayden_X_Lee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cayden_X_Lee</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HottyToddy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HottyToddy</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Q8dsNYgTn">pic.twitter.com/4Q8dsNYgTn</a>

    However, Lagway responded by leading Florida on a four-play, 75-yard drive capped by his 25-yard TD to Jadan Baugh.

    Florida Gators Football @GatorsFB

    SPEED IN SPACE <a href="https://twitter.com/1vibesjay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1vibesjay</a> <br><br>📺 ABC <a href="https://t.co/fxKyhAR5sR">pic.twitter.com/fxKyhAR5sR</a>

    Trey Smack's 53-yard field goal put Florida up 17-14. Ole Miss responded with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a failed 4th-and-1 try from the Florida 10-yard line following a handoff to defensive tackle J.J. Pegues.

    Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Ripped by CFB Fans for Loss to Napier, Florida Amid CFP Push
    Video Play Button
    ✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content Right Arrow Icon

    Ole Miss did force a three-and-out that led to a Caden Davis 42-yard field goal for a 17-17 tie. The two teams then traded punts, but Florida went back up with 7:40 remaining after Johnson's nine-yard run on a direct snap.

    Florida Gators Football @GatorsFB

    DIRECT SNAP TO <a href="https://twitter.com/Trellll_3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Trellll_3</a>. GATORS LEAD!!<br><br>📺 ABC <a href="https://t.co/Keo40ArbH8">pic.twitter.com/Keo40ArbH8</a>

    Ole Miss had three chances to tie the game, but its drives ended with a punt and two Jaxson Dart interceptions to Bryce Thornton in the game's final two minutes.

    Florida Gators Football @GatorsFB

    DUNK ON 'EM <a href="https://twitter.com/Brycethornton_2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Brycethornton_2</a> <br><br>📺 ABC <a href="https://t.co/jUgk5FuZpV">pic.twitter.com/jUgk5FuZpV</a>

    ESPN @espn

    Last week, the Gators took down No. 22 LSU.<br><br>Today, they upset No. 9 Ole Miss 💪 <a href="https://t.co/eoEYfUbHiw">pic.twitter.com/eoEYfUbHiw</a>

    It was a disastrous loss for Ole Miss, whose CFP hopes are dashed at this point, opening up the door for other teams.

    Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger

    Billy Napier and the Gators will knock off Lane Kiffin's Rebels.<br><br>Ole Miss' loss would appear to pave the way for Tennessee to come off the bubble and make the playoff, if the Vols win out (Vandy next week). Big win for Indiana, too.

    Adam Rittenberg @ESPNRittenberg

    Just a brutal finish for Jaxson Dart. Ole Miss' CFP hopes have been chomped.

    Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

    NOW it's over. <br><br>Florida is going to give No. 9 Ole Miss its third loss and knock the Rebels out of the College Football Playoff picture.

    Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 @BarrettSallee

    What a total letdown for Ole Miss fans. Lane Kiffin went all-in on the 2024 season to get to the CFP and build a team that is national championship-worthy. Now those hopes are gone.

    Florida has certainly been on the rebound over the last two weeks, notably beating No. 22 LSU 24-17 last Saturday. However, the Gators 6-5 (4-4 SEC) struggled for most of the season, and head coach Billy Napier has been on the hot seat all year.

    Much of the social media reaction focused on Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, the leader of the promising and talented program with great preseason CFP hopes that have now been dashed.

    Adam Kramer @KegsnEggs

    Lane Kiffin when favored by 10 or more points. <a href="https://t.co/ZnDlfEDtEx">pic.twitter.com/ZnDlfEDtEx</a>

    Todd Fuhrman @ToddFuhrman

    I don't like to speak in hyperbole when it comes to this business because sports narratives are diametrically opposed to being a sports bettor<br><br>HOWEVER...<br><br>Lane Kiffin not having his team prepared to play this week is inexcusable on every single level

    Hunter Johnson @BurnerLJohnson

    Guess Lane Kiffin won't have to worry about the SEC Championship Game.

    Jon Reed @Jon__Reed

    Credit to Jaxson Dart and Lane Kiffin for finding a way to lose that game 3 separate times

    Patrick Daugherty @RotoPat

    Lane Kiffin is still somehow underrated as the most consistent fraud in American athletics

    College Football Watcher @CFBWatcher

    Lane Kiffin losing three games at Ole Miss with the schedule they got from the SEC this year plus the talent on this roster is an absolute failure of a coaching job

    Nathan Hawks Fan Club @NathanHawksFC

    Ole Miss should fire Kiffin

    Dan Barrett @dbarrett1984

    If Ole Miss loses this, we can never take a Lane Kiffin team serious again.

    Charlie Burris @Charlie_Burris

    Turns out Kiffin still can't win the big one

    Tom Lang @_TomLang

    Good ole Lane Kiffin.<br><br>Can set your watch by him.

    Gabe Ikard @GabeIkard

    Ole Miss is the most confusing team in college football. They alternate between "can this team win it all?" and "is this team even good?"

    Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) will close the regular season on Friday against arch-rival Mississippi State.