How Lane Kiffin just proved he and Ole Miss are real College Football Playoff contenders as Rebels crush LSU Tigers’ momentum
Lane Kiffin called “game” by trusting his QB Trinidad Chambliss execute in critical moment
Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels were good enough to make the College Football Playoff and perhaps win it all in 2024, but ultimately fell short in a few key moments. This year, Kiffin and company is back with a vengeance, proving that the “year-after” team might be just as special.
Following Ole Miss’ stunning 24-19 victory over the #4 ranked LSU Tigers the Rebels are now 5-0 overall and 3-0 in SEC play looking like a real national championship contender.
This isn’t smoke and mirrors. This is real. And Kiffin proved it this week.
Lane Kiffin proved why he’s among elite coaches in win over LSU
Lane Kiffin put on an absolute master class of coaching, play-calling, and offensive scheming against LSU this week.
First, Kiffin put his surprise star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in great position to find easy mismatches early on in the game, getting him on the move via play design, setting up an early go-ahead score (10-7 as the second quarter progressed).
Then Kiffin perfectly game-managed the final few minutes before the first half ended, calling a nine-play 69-yard drive so that the LSU Tigers had virtually no time to answer. Ole Miss headed into halftime up 17-7.
And finally, despite some imperfect play from Chambliss, an unlucky interception off a tipped ball, and a less-than-ideal play where his QB ran out of bounds setting up a 4th down that could make or break the game, Kiffin stayed calm and called “game” with the perfect play call. He trusted his players. He drew up the best play imaginable for 4th & 3 (as you can see in my post below). Then Chambliss paid off that trust with a game-winning toss to tight end Dae’Quan Wright.
Kiffin is now 44-13 in the last five seasons with Ole Miss. 26-5 in the last three. He continues to make the right call every single week, winning on the recruiting trail, winning in the transfer portal, and developing quarterbacks exactly when and how he needs them.
However, Kiffin’s genius isn’t the only reason that the Ole Miss Rebels are obvious College Football Playoff contenders in 2025. Their new quarterback Trinidad Chambliss–replacing the injured Austin Simmons–is playing at an extremely high level. It’s going to be nearly impossible to take him off the field now.
Trinidad Chambliss is playing like a Heisman Trophy finalist that could carry Rebels to the Playoff
Trinidad Chambliss already entered Week 5 college football action ranked second among all FBS passers in adjusted yards per pass attempt, seventh in QBR, and ninth in passer rating. After posting yet another impressive outing against one of the best defenses in the country Chambliss is truly putting himself on Heisman Trophy trajectory with his play.
314 passing yards. Crucial passing touchdown. Over eight yards per pass attempt. 71 rushing yards. Chambliss played extremely well all game long, and his one interception wasn’t even his fault (it was tipped into a defender’s lap).
Regardless of whether Austin Simmons is back healthy or not, Trinidad Chambliss is playing far too well to take off the field at this point.
He’s clearly formed chemistry with the Rebels wide receivers and tight end Dae’Quan Wright. His mobility creates major issues for opposing defenses even when he doesn’t add a ton of rushing yards. His accuracy is on point consistently and that shows up in his meaningful metrics across the board. Yes, he made a bad call running out of bounds late against LSU, but Chambliss is the real deal.
Kiffin and Chambliss have the Ole Miss Rebels in prime position to put together one of the best seasons in program history. If there were any doubters coming into this week there shouldn’t be anymore.
We’ll be back with more Ole Miss Rebels coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
