Florida Gators football will face Ole Miss in SEC Week 1 matchup

The Southeastern Conference announced its opening week matchups on Monday afternoon, revealing the roster for the first seven games of 2020.

The Southeastern Conference announced its opening week matchups on Monday afternoon, revealing the roster for the first seven games of 2020. Despite the on-going coronavirus pandemic, the league has shown every indication that it will continue forward with its conference-only schedule beginning on Sept. 26.

The University of Florida was pitted against non-divisional foe Ole Miss, whose first-year coach Lane Kiffin will be looking to set the tone for his team against a heavily-favored Florida team. The Gators will begin their conference-only season on the road far from the friendly confines of The Swamp, but they bring in high expectations after a commendable showing in 2019.

However, while the Gators may be a better overall team, do not count the Rebels out in this weird 2020 year where anything seems possible, especially with Kiffin at the helm on the opposite sideline.

WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

Alabama at Missouri

Florida at Ole Miss

Georgia at Arkansas

Kentucky at Auburn

Mississippi State at LSU

Tennessee at South Carolina

Vanderbilt at Texas A&M

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LOOK: Lane Kiffin pokes fun at Alabama

The former Alabama offensive coordinator/current Ole Miss Rebels head coach posted a funny picture on Twitter poking fun at the Crimson Tide

Despite the current unknowns and events surrounding the (hopeful) season of college football this fall, Lane Kiffin found a way to bring in some humor during a time of uncertainty and doubt.

The former Alabama offensive coordinator and current Ole Miss Rebels head coach posted a funny picture on Twitter poking fun at the Crimson Tide.

The picture is of course no other than a memory of Alabama’s 23-17 loss in Oxford, Mississippi in 2014.

The loss of course stunned Alabama as they were the No. 1 team in the nation coming into the matchup, and were favored to win by a large margin.

It was Ole Miss’ first win against Alabama since 2003.

The game was a stunning heartbreaker for Alabama.

The Tide finished the season 11-2 after losing to Ohio State 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl.

Kiffin, who just signed a four-year deal worth $16.2 million is one of the former assistant coaches Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide will face next year.

Kiffin is currently 0-1 against Saban after the 2009 loss Tennessee had against Alabama when Kiffin was the head coach at Tennessee .

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25 Bold and Downright Insane Predictions for the Auburn, SEC Football Season

The 2020 college football season is already going to be weird so let’s predict some bold and insane things that could happen.

It is already going to be a weird season of college football, so let’s just go ahead and get crazy. Mascot-on-mascot violence? Sure. Coaches losing their minds? Absolutely. Gary Danielson not mentioning Alabama during a SEC on CBS broadcast? Well, we aren’t at that point yet, but I say we celebrate the upcoming season with a look at some things that could possibly but hardly likely to come true in 2020.

MORE: What Auburn’s SEC only 2020 football schedule could look like

Yes, it is that time again for some wackiness so let’s go ahead and list 25 bold and, some would say, downright insane predictions for both the Auburn and SEC football season. Ready? Ready.

  1. Bo Nix will release his much awaited debut rap album titled “Nix’in and Fix’in It.” He will forget to thank his five offensive lineman for their contributions to the album, especially the song “Blocking is Only For The Strong,” resulting in Nix being sacked a record 25 times against LSU.
  2. Also mad about not being included on Nix’s album, Seth Williams will start tipping passes into the air or, as they sometimes call it, the “Georgia secondary method.”
  3. Gus Malzahn will refuse to come out of his dressing room after accidentally being told that his beloved Dubble Bubble gum has been replaced with a cheaper knockoff.
  4. Auburn’s running backs will have no leg strength after doing nothing but leg lifts for six hours after new offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. insults “those puny calves that look like a baby.” Also, in this scenario, Bicknell talks like Hans and Franz from the old Saturday Night Live skit. Look it up, kids.
  5. In a moment of whimsy, Nick Saban will go for the lighter blonde hair coloring instead of the darker version … errr, not that he colors his hair or anything. All natural. 
  6. Struggling to put away Kentucky in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Malzahn will employ the secret Jared Harper package at quarterback with the actual Harper taking the snaps. The Wildcats will immediately melt down as the Tigers win by 28.
  7. Anthony Schwartz, feeling unchallenged in track, will challenge a live cheetah to a 100-yard dash. Sensing a predator in the area, the eagles will circle the stadium and attack the cheetah at precisely the same time, resulting in the worst massacre on the field since Brodie Croyle visited in 2006.
  8. Sensing the job security that usually comes with winning a national title, Ed Orgeron will decide to coach via Zoom from a remote island that will be undisclosed. It will turn out that he is actually just bathing in Mike the Tiger’s habitat. 
  9. Following the first victory of the season, Chad Morris will be seen hyperventilating beneath the stadium, overwhelmed by the accomplishment of winning a SEC game.
  10. The season ticket holders in Section 13 will sign a petition asking for the name of the section to be changed as 13 is an unlucky number. Auburn officials will perform the ultimate troll by renaming it Section 2020.
  11. In a moment of hysteria, Associate Athletic Director/Communications Kirk Sampson will announce that he and only he will be answering the media’s questions following games. He will then spend 15 minutes rambling about deep dish pizza. 
  12. Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin, forgetting that the Egg Bowl was to be played the next day, have to hire a private charter plane to get back to Mississippi from Key West where they were last seen closing down Flying Monkeys.
  13. Anders Carlson will mock Alabama by kicking field goals barefooted and blindfolded while drinking a cup of hot tea.
  14. Charles Barkley will show up in President Jay Gogue’s box and accidentally call him Dr. Leath. In a moment of irony, it will be Barkley that is thrown out a plate glass window.
  15. Texas A&M’s “12th Man” will be down to nine after three fall ill from a case of preseason hype. The only cure is a mixture of disappointing losses and telling Texas that its song sounds like hell.
  16. Dan Mullen will suddenly retire and take the job he was born to have: a salesman at a Mercedes dealership in South Florida. He WILL sell you on the platinum package, just a deal between you and him.
  17. Patrick Nix will break the record for most shots of a dad in the crowd, formerly held by Archie Manning.
  18. Tired of Auburn settling for a field goal after reaching the red zone, The Voice of the Auburn Tigers Andy Burcham will release a tirade that includes such dirty words as “shucks” and “dang.” 
  19. Listening to Gary Danielson call a game for the first time, Tua Tagovailoa will think, “Man, that man needs to shut up about me.”
  20. Smoke Monday will return an interception for a touchdown and then disappear into a literal cloud of smoke, landing him the starring role in the sequel to The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.
  21. Georgia will once again fail to win its first national title since 1980. This is neither bold or insane.
  22. Will Muschamp will finally snap for good, interrupting a game by punting the ball into the stands, sacking his own quarterback and escaping the scene via one of the cabooses parked outside the stadium. 
  23. Big Kat Bryant will be forced to change his name after Carole Baskin mistakes him for competition and orders a hit on him. Not that she would ever do that. (Wink! Wink!) Wow. Tiger King feels so long ago.
  24. The 2010 National Championship team will be welcomed back at halftime of the LSU game. Pete Thamel will immediately write that the ceremony is an insult to the game of football, nay, the entire world.
  25. Auburn fans will take a loss in measure, seeing that it is only a game and won’t flood message boards and radio call-in shows with “Gus needs to be fired and now!” rants and will definitely not spread rumors about Bob Stoops hiring a realtor in the area because a friend who knows a friend’s brother’s cousin heard it over drinks at The Hound. Nope. That won’t happen at all.

Vols’ football history 2009: Head coach Lane Kiffin

Vols’ football history 2009: Head coach Lane Kiffin

KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee football is rich in tradition and Vols Wire will explore the program by examining each head coach’s tenure.

This installment will look back on Lane Kiffin’s brief one-year tenure as head coach in Big Orange Country. His stay lasted through the 2009 season. Although the Vols went 7-6 and made a bowl game, his hiring and subsequent unexpected departure began one of the darkest eras in UT football history.

Kiffin came to Knoxville to replace legendary coach Phillip Fulmer, who was dismissed during the 2008 campaign. His dismal was in the midst of one of the program’s two losing seasons since Fulmer replaced Johnny Majors, an icon in football history on Rocky Top. The Tennessee legend was fired before homecoming, but was permitted to finish the season. Fulmer won his final two games and the Volunteers went 5-7.

Kiffin came to Knoxville after a stint as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California, making him the first outsider to coach UT since Bill Battle.

Upon his arrival, Kiffin’s brash attitude was a breath of fresh air for fans and he later opened spring to fans. He made it clear that there was a new sheriff in town and that nobody was going to push Tennessee around anymore.

He had a signature Southeastern Conference win over Georgia.

Kiffin left to return to USC. He replaced Pete Carroll as head coach, where he was subsequently fired. Before coming to UT, he had an unsuccessful tenure in the NFL as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

After leaving USC, the Fresno State graduate was offensive coordinator at Alabama and head coach at Florida Atlantic.

He is currently the head coach at Ole Miss.

College Football News ranks SEC head coaches: Where’s Kirby Smart?

College Football News ranked the top SEC head coaches. Where is Georgia football’s Kirby Smart?

Pete Fiutak of College Football News recently released a list ranking the SEC head coaches heading into the 2020 season.

Checking in at No. 3 on the list is Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who trails only Nick Saban (1) and Ed Orgeron (2).

At No. 4 is Dan Mullen and at No. 5 is Gus Malzahn.

As much as I’d love for Smart to be in that No. 2 spot, I do not disagree with Fiutak here.

Smart’s time will come, and within the next five years he may very well occupy that No. 1 spot.

For now, he’s sitting at No. 3 on Fiutak’s list, likely right on the verge of taking over that No. 2 ranking. As long as he keeps winning the SEC East, beating rivals and putting his team in striking distance for the College Football Playoff…he’ll be considered a top-five coach in America.

Orgeron or Smart at No. 2 was likely a somewhat difficult decision. Fiutak went with Coach O since he accomplished something Kirby hasn’t yet, a national championship.

I’ve heard it all – “Anyone could win with that roster.”

Sure, Smart probably would have won it with that roster LSU had last year. But, at the end of the day, he didn’t have that roster. No other way around it.

Also, how can you not love Coach O?

As for Saban, there’s no arguing that one.

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss football player speak at unity rally: ‘We’re here because racism is here’

“This is just a start,” Lane Kiffin said at the rally.

Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin was among the countless people across the United States and world who protested against racial injustice and police brutality this weekend, continuing a stretch of nearly two weeks of protests nationwide. Protesters continue demanding justice for those killed by police, particularly George Floyd, who died on Memorial Day after a now-former Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes.

Kiffin, who has yet to coach a game for Ole Miss, joined others from the school’s athletics department for a “Unity Walk” in Oxford on Saturday to support the Black Lives Matter movement and call for justice for Floyd, according to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.

Speaking at the march, Kiffin focused on trying to unite people — while wearing a t-shirt with “Unity” written on it — and called the protest “a step in the right direction.”

Speaking briefly at the podium, Kiffin said:

“This a serious issue that we’re dealing with as a country. Today’s Unity Walk came up from a lot of different people, but partly from listening to the players and their concerns and listening to them throughout the week and seeing for myself what is happening nationally and the issues that have gone on far too long. This is about taking action, and this is a step in the right direction. We’re walking to promote change and to help end injustice that is occurring throughout our nation everywhere.

“It’s clear and it’s imperative that we have to learn to listen to each other, to love one another and to really, really, truly support each other and understand each and every one. This is just a start. I’m here, as well as our staff, to say today we’re here to support you guys in any way that we can. It’s time to move forward together.”

Others in attendance at the march included Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, women’s basketball coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Oxford mayor Robyn Tannehill, per the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.

Although Kiffin avoided using words like racism or police, one of his players at the march was a bit more direct. Defensive end Ryder Anderson also spoke at the podium, saying:

“We’re here because racism is here. We’re here because police brutality is here. Because systematic oppression is here — all across America, including Mississippi, including right here in Oxford. So my challenge to you is to fight it.”

And in a video interview shared by Ole Miss Athletics’ Twitter account, McPhee-McCuin and Anderson expanded on their views and experiences that led to them participating Saturday. Anderson explained why he wanted to speak out:

“I’m done not using my voice or not using my voice how I want to, you know what I’m saying, in my heart. I want everyone else to know that they can stand up. It’s time for that. They can stand up.”

Here’s a more complete look at the rally/march from Ole Miss:

Ranking SEC head coaches heading into 2020 CFB season

We ranked all the SEC head coaches, from Georgia football’s Kirby Smart, to Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, to Florida’s Dan Mullen.

The SEC is loaded with head coaching talent as we head into the 2020 college football season.

You have your usuals – Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Gus Malzahn, Ed Orgeron, etc.

But then you have your familiar, or in some cases not-so-familiar, yet new faces: Lane Kiffin, Mike Leach, Sam Pittman, Eli Drinkwitz.

Ranking the SEC head coaches heading into the 2020 season is as hard as it’s ever been, and that’s because of all these new hirings. But it’s also because Jeremy Pruitt waited until October to start winning games in Tennessee last year. It’s because Ed Orgeron took a loaded roster and won a national title. Because Gus Malzahn and Auburn always have the talent but can’t seem to win the big ones. Or because, despite a 4-8 season, Will Muschamp was able to knock off Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Related: 2020 Georgia schedule with game-by-game score predictions

14. Sam Pittman, Arkansas

I would have loved to get Pittman into a higher spot on this list, but what is there to go off of? His last head coaching job came in 1992 and 1993 when he led Hutchinson Community College to an 11–9–1 record over two seasons.

I am 100% rooting for Pittman to succeed in his first season as head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. It won’t be easy, and this is a team that will likely finish with at least five losses for the first few years, but that’s not necessarily a terrible thing as long as they play hard.

Arkansas may not field the most talented teams in the SEC, but if there’s one thing I’m certain of it’s that the former UGA O-Line coach will make sure his guys fight harder than anybody.

13. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri

Drinkwitz gets the No. 13 spot because of what he was able to do at App State last year. In his first season as a head coach, he led the Mountaineers to a 12-1 record and a Sun Belt championship.

But that’s not the SEC. It’s going to be a rocky road ahead for Drinkwitz, as Mizzou will definitely not be one of the more talented teams in the league for a few years.

12. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt

I often find myself rooting for Vanderbilt and Mason.

He took over at Vandy when James Franklin left for Penn State, and though it’s been tough at times, you get the feeling that Commodore fans actually look forward to their seasons.

11. Will Muschamp, South Carolina

If Muschamp had not beaten Georgia last year, he maybe would not even be on this list at all.

But he won and that probably saved his job. He coaches up a good defense, but South Carolina will need to crank up its recruiting efforts if it wants to start contending in the SEC East. Another season with no bowl game may put an end to Muschamp’s head coaching career with the Gamecocks.

10. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

Kiffin is a good football coach, there’s no denying that. No. 10 is pretty low for an offensive genius like him. But this conference is simply loaded.

Kiffin did a great job at Florida Atlantic, but I still need to see him win consistently at a Power 5 school.

CFN in 60: Ole Miss 2020 Preview

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Ole Miss Rebels season with what you need to know.

Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Ole Miss Rebels season with what you need to know.

Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

CFN in 60: Ole Miss 2020 Preview

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Ole Miss Rebels season with what you need to know.

Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Ole Miss Rebels season with what you need to know.

Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Hot Seat Coach Rankings For Every Power Five Team: 20 For 2020 College Football Topics, No. 14

20 for 2020 College Football Topics, No. 14: the coaching hot seat rankings for all of the Power Five teams. 

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20 for 2020 College Football Topics, No. 14: the coaching hot seat rankings for all of the Power Five teams. 


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Being on a hot seat shouldn’t just be about whether or not a guy needs to win a football game or five to keep his job. That’s obviously the biggest part of the staying hired equation, but it’s about pressure, too.

Sometimes, a relatively safe made man has all the pressure in the world on his shoulders to beat the arch-rival, and sometimes a college football head coach just has to win big, or else.

The rankings go from who’s on the coolest of seats in each Power Five conference to who had better come up with a big season to survive.

ACC Spring Coach Hot Seat Rankings

14. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

Yeah, the pressure is on to win the national title or the season is a disappointment, but Swinney has coached in four national championship games in five years. He’s at Clemson for life if it’ll have him.
Record With Team: 130-31
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 14
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 14
Full Schedule Analysis

13. Bronco Mendenhall, Virginia

The guy just beat Virginia Tech and took the Cavaliers to the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl. It’s Virginia, the pressure isn’t that intense – he can have a few rough seasons and still be more than comfortable.
Record With Team: 25-27
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 12
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 8
Full Schedule Analysis

12. Jeff Hafley, Boston College

A total disaster of a year would cause a little grumbling, but get to six wins and everything will be okay in Year One. Even if the record is awful, it’ll be seen as a step back to possibly take a big leap forward.
Record With Team: 0-0
Full Schedule Analysis

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11. Scott Satterfield, Louisville

Everyone likes him, the overall attitude has changed around the program, and the talent is starting to come in. There’s still a rebuilding process to be done, but he showed last season what he can do with the Cardinals.
Record With Team: 8-5
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 13
Full Schedule Analysis

10. Dave Clawson, Wake Forest

It’s Wake freaking Forest, and Clawson has managed to take it to four straight bowl games and four straight winning seasons. There might be ebbs and flows to the record throughout the years, but he has already proven what he can do.
Record With Team: 36-40
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 8
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 10
Full Schedule Analysis

9. Mack Brown, North Carolina

It was a positive first season to pull the Tar Heels out of the nosedive, but it has to be a beginning and not a culmination. The recruiting class was great, everything appears to be pointing up, but … win more.
Record With Team: 7-6
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 3
Full Schedule Analysis

8. Mike Norvell, Florida State

He’ll get a very, very, very short leash. He got Memphis over the hump, and the early returns are all positive, but he has yet to win a bowl game and he’s not the A-list of A-list possible hires. Brand name doesn’t always matter – ask UCLA how the Chip Kelly era is going – but it’s Florida State. A losing season will set off panic sirens.
Record With Team: 0-0
Full Schedule Analysis

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7. David Cutcliffe, Duke

A third losing season in five years wouldn’t be a plus, but it’s Duke, and it’s Cutcliffe, so it would take something awful for this to be over in a bad way. However, after 12 years, the “go another direction” thing could come out if the campaign is a total disaster.
Record With Team: 72-79
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 10
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 7
Full Schedule Analysis

6. Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech

It’s still going to take a little while to completely turn this whole thing around – a brutal schedule won’t help – but grade him a bit on a curve. That’s fine, but there had better be signs that something big is coming in 2021 no matter what happens record-wise in 2020.
Record With Team: 3-9
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 11
Full Schedule Analysis

5. Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech

Last season was stronger after a losing 2018 season, but he has lost three straight bowl games and there can’t be another loss to Virginia. At the very least, it would be a big plus if the Hokies were in the mix for the Coastal title until the end.
Record With Team: 33-20
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 4
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 13
Full Schedule Analysis

4. Pat Narduzzi, Pitt

The pressure always seems to be on Narduzzi to do more, and then he goes out and wins 7-to-8 games. However, after five years, one total clunker – and a second losing season in three years – would be a big problem
Record With Team: 36-29
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 2
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 1
Full Schedule Analysis

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3. Dino Babers, Syracuse

The ten-win season of two years ago seems way back in the rearview mirror. With three losing seasons in his four years, last season has to be more of the aberration than 2018.
Record With Team: 23-26
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 9
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 2
Full Schedule Analysis

2. Dave Doeren, NC State

The opening line of last year’s blurb on Doeren: “There’s a problem if the Wolfpack come up with a 4-8 run.” State went 4-8. That was okay once, but it can’t happen again. The team wasn’t even competitive over the second half of the season.
Record With Team: 48-41
2019 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 7
2018 ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 5
Full Schedule Analysis

1. Manny Diaz, Miami

Miami fans are already a fickle lot as they expect greatness – and are right to do so – but losing to FIU, losing to a bad Duke team, and getting shutout by a Group of Five team in a lower-tier bowl on the way to a losing season is never going to be okay in Coral Gables.
Record With Team: 6-7
Last Season ACC Spring Hot Seat Ranking: 6
Full Schedule Analysis

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