Of course, Kiffin was fired from his USC job in 2013 soon after those comments and then joined Nick Saban and Alabama as that team’s offensive coordinator. The rest is history, leading up to Kiffin’s Ole Miss upsetting Georgia this past Saturday.
Kiffin once again credited that chain of events to Finebaum, who of course isn’t the main reason Kiffin got fired at USC but probably didn’t help matters with his pointed, public commentary.
“I wouldn’t have been here to have the Georgia win if you wouldn’t have got me fired at USC,” Kiffin told Finebaum, who laughed at the comment. “Again, I’m grateful to you, Paul. Thanks for that day. Thanks for the Miley Cyrus comment.”
Both seemed to be in good spirits during the moment, and it looks like they’ve mostly buried the hatchet over one of the more infamous disses in recent college football history.
You can still detect a little salt from Kiffin, but this is probably as amicable as it’s going to get between these two.
The television commentators for the Georgia-Tennesse game are Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline) and Laura Rutledge (sideline).
Georgia is 7-2 (5-2 SEC) and has its back against the wall after losing to Ole Miss 28-10 last week. Georgia needs to win to stay alive in the SEC title race and to remain in control of its College Football Playoff destiny.
Tennessee is 8-1 (5-1 SEC). The Volunteers are coming off a 33-14 win at home over Mississippi State where quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the game with an upper body injury.
Kirby Smart thinks Tennessee is one of the best teams in the country.
“This team (Tennessee) is playing defense at an extremely high level, and they have an extremely explosive offense, and extremely physical offense. So, it’s a great test,” said Smart.
Georgia has had turnover issues, and those can’t continue if the Bulldogs are going to defeat Tennessee. Georgia has had at least two turnovers in four straight games.
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Last year, Georgia beat Tennessee 38-10. This season, the Bulldogs are favored by over a touchdown, but aren’t expected to dominate again.
A squirrel briefly stole the show in Georgia’s 28-10 loss to Ole Miss
The Georgia Bulldogs fell 28-10 in a tough, rainy SEC game to the Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss outplayed Georgia, but the Rebels did get a few fortunate deflections in their massive home win.
Georgia’s offensive line played poorly (five sacks allowed) and the UGA offense had three turnovers (two fumbles). Georgia’s defense allowed Ole Miss to pile up yardage, but the Dawgs stood tall in the red zone.
Georgia got off to a 7-0 lead over Ole Miss thanks to a Nate Frazier rushing touchdown on fourth down. However, Mississippi outscored UGA 28-3 from that point on despite not having quarterback Jaxson Dart for the ensuing drive.
Ole Miss preserved their College Football Playoff hopes with a win over Georgia. The Bulldogs now are searching for answers ahead of their Week 12 clash with Tennessee. Georgia faces a potential elimination game against Tennessee on Saturday and will need all hands on deck.
Huh. This is sure to be a problem for Georgia fans.
The Bulldogs lost badly to Ole Miss on Saturday 28-10, leaving the No. 11 (for now) team in the nation with two losses. Not great.
Ole Miss fans also prematurely stormed the field and eventually tore down the goalposts, and it was in that pandemonium that we see the video below — it’s Georgia safety Jake Pope, jumping up and down with some Ole Miss fans. Some people wonder if those die-hards are the family or friends of offensive lineman Reece McIntyre.
We have zero context, no word on why he reacted like this, nada. But we’re pretty sure Georgia’s Kirby Smart will be asked about it at some point, along with why Carson Beck was smiling on the sidelines, although the QB addressed that on Satuday.
College football fans have a suspect for why there are so many squirrels on Ole Miss’ field this season.
Welcome to FTW Explains: A guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. The college football is making jokes about Lane Kiffin and squirrels, and you may be wondering what’s up with that. We’ve got you covered.
Something unexpected happened Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi. It was odd but not particularly unique for an Ole Miss football game, and no, we’re not talking about Ole Miss upsetting Georgia with a decisive 28-10 victory — though that happened.
And now, college football fans are speculating, positing, theorizing that perhaps, just maybe, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is behind the squirrel delay. Was it there for fun or nefarious reasons? After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened at an Ole Miss game.
But let’s back up.
A squirrel on the field caused a delay in the Ole Miss’ upset against Georgia
Saturday early in the second quarter of the Bulldogs’ road game against Ole Miss, this squirrel ran on the field. Obviously, it’s challenging to catch a speedy squirrel or even to gently usher it off the field and out of harm’s way, so there was a little bit of a delay.
But this wasn’t the first squirrel on Ole Miss’ field this season?
Nope! A few weeks ago during Ole Miss’ home win over Oklahoma, a squirrel was spotted on the field at the end of the first quarter, causing another momentary delay.
Was it the same squirrel? A different one? Where are they coming from? Are they trying to football? What is going on with all the squirrels at Ole Miss?!
Something fishy is super definitely going on, and college football fans love conspiracy theories.
So why are fans blaming Lane Kiffin for releasing the squirrels?
Nov 9, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; A squirrel runs across the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during the first half between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Mississippi Rebels. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Well, Kiffin and his creativity are kind of legendary in college football, so college football fans are wondering… maybe he’s actually behind the squirrel invasion.
The SEC responded with penalties for fake injuries
Faking injuries — presumably in lieu of burning a timeout or to disrupt another team’s rhythm — became such a problem that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey warned teams against it earlier this month and threatened penalties.
“As plainly as it can be stated: Stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create time-outs,” Sankey wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.
He ended the memo by writing: “Play football and stop the feigned injury nonsense.”
Per ESPN, the penalties include a public reprimand and $50,000 fine to a head coach on a first offense, another reprimand and $100,000 fine for a second and, should it happen a third time, the coach will be suspended for the next game. Similar punishments will happen for staff members encouraging this.
So, naturally, college football fans are pointing to Lane Kiffin as the squirrel wrangler
With Ole Miss having multiple egregious fake injury moments and the SEC threatening fines, college football fans naturally drew the very logical and without-fault conclusion that Kiffin is behind the squirrel invasion at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Does he whistle, and a squirrel comes out? Do he and the squirrel communicate on a radio? Does Kiffin just have endless squirrels in his pockets? We need answers!
The SEC: We will fine/suspend you if you fake injuries ✋
As the theories continued, some on college football Twitter even speculated about other capabilities of the squirrel — along with many jokes — and, you know, they might just be on to something. Who knows?!
The squirrel is part of a sign-stealing scam by Lane Kiffin, no I will not be elaborating further
Ole Miss pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the college football season on Saturday as the team took down visiting Georgia, 28-10.
As expected, fans in Oxford were ecstatic about the victory over such a major contender like the Bulldogs. Storming the field, even in the pouring rain, felt like a given.
However, the Ole Miss fans in attendance took to the field 16 seconds too early. We’ve seen fans storm the field a little early in the past, but 16 seconds is way, way too early!
As the football game had to finish out its last stretch before the celebration could begin, the Ole Miss fans had to leave the field before eventually returning 16 game clock seconds later.
Right idea, slightly wrong execution for Ole Miss fans here. However, it all worked out in the end.
Ole Miss had a problem keeping fans off of the field at the end of Saturday's win against Georgia.
The problem? The Ole Miss students stormed the field before the game was over. pic.twitter.com/kz7UaMxJIG
What are the squirrels trying to tell us? Is there a squirrel invasion afoot in Mississippi? Can Ole Miss check one of these squirrels’ NCAA eligibility to see if they could play?
We’re not sure what’s going on with the squirrels at Ole Miss on game day, but we’re very curious to see if this continues.
The ESPN College GameDay crew predict is split on their Georgia at Ole Miss predictions
The ESPN “College GameDay” crew had a lot to say about No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs traveling to No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels.
Desmond Howard claimed that Ole Miss defense will create turnovers and cash them in for the upset for the Rebels.
Nick Saban said, “Jaxon Dart is a great player but hasn’t always stepped up in big moments for his team. He also called Georgia’s front seven the best in the country.” Saban went ahead and took Georgia with his pick.
Lee Corso claims the Ole Miss will upset Georgia due to their new and improved front seven, which leads the nation in sacks.
Pat Mcafee without any question took Georgia as soon it was his turn to pick.
Celebrity guest pickers, MLB rising star Paul Skenes and NCAA champion gymnast Livvy Dunne, predict that Georgia will defeat Ole Miss.
Kirk Herbstreit offers his insight that when Georgia is questioned or doubted is when the Bulldogs play their best. Herbstreit went on to pick Georgia to win.
Media predicts who wins, covers in the Georgia versus Ole Miss football game
The No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1) hit the road to play the No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels (7-2, 3-2) in an SEC clash with College Football Playoff implications. The Georgia-Ole Miss game will be played on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ABC.
Georgia enters the Ole Miss game as three-point favorites. The Bulldogs are coming off a 34-20 win over Florida. Ole Miss looked impressive in a 63-31 win over Arkansas last week.
Members of the media are split on which team will cover the spread, but most of the media has Georgia winning.
National media predictions for Georgia at Ole Miss
“As Kiffin pointed out this week, Georgia has beaten everyone in its path not named Alabama since the COVID-19 season. The Rebels have added impact transfers and can make explosive plays, but their strength of schedule is 51st by Sagarin. The Bulldogs’ defense slows down Dart and Rebels,” said Marc Weiszer of Athens Banner-Herald.
Weiszer has the Georgia covering the spread and winning. He’s smart to point out that Ole Miss’ stats are probably a little inflated.
Prediction: Georgia 31, Ole Miss 24
SEC Mike of “That SEC Podcast” predicts Ole Miss will narrowly beat Georgia. Ole Miss would become the first team to beat Georgia, outside of Alabama, since 2020.
Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Georgia 26
Cousin Shane of “That SEC Podcast” predicts Georgia will win, but not cover against Ole Miss. Georgia did not cover in its win over Florida last week.
Prediction: Georgia 28, Ole Miss 27
Athens-Banner Herald
“Because of Georgia’s recent success — as in recent years — you could be forgiven for immediately saying UGA wins. Carson Beck, though, is trying to shake a pretty terrible two-game stretch.” said David Kenyon of Bleacher Report.
Kenyon has Georgia covering and winning, but thinks the warning signs are there for Carson Beck to have another bad game.
Prediction: Georgia 27, Ole Miss 20
Our prediction
Ole Miss is going to fight like crazy against Georgia. The Rebels’ playoff hopes are on the line, but I think Georgia has just enough to get the job done. I think Georgia’s pass rush and defensive line will be the difference against the Ole Miss offensive front.
Prediction: Georgia 23, Ole Miss 21
Overall prediction tally
Four of the five writers have Georgia winning, but only two have Georgia winning and covering the three-point spread.
Georgia Bulldogs football injury report ahead of UGA’s game against the Ole Miss Rebels
The Georgia Bulldogs will be without four players against the Ole Miss Rebels. The Georgia-Ole Miss game is at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 9.
For a second straight week, Georgia will be without primary punt returner Anthony Evans. Georgia safety Malaki Starks started in Evans’ place last week against Florida.
“We’re hopeful to get those guys back is the biggest thing,” said Kirby Smart on Roderick Robinson, Smael Mondon and Anthony Evans. “I don’t know at one point it’s going to happen. But each one of those guys are rehabbing, working their butts off and hoping to get back to help the team soon.”
Georgia starting offensive lineman Tate Ratledge and starting running back Trevor Etienne (ribs) are not listed on the injury report and are expected to play against Ole Miss. Georgia is down a pair of running backs in Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson. The Dawgs had a surprising name pop up on the injury report: offensive guard Micah Morris, who missed time against Florida.
Georgia defensive lineman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, who is a former five-star recruit, is out for the season.
Georgia injury report
Georgia Bulldogs running back Trevor Etienne is not on the SEC availability report. Melina Myers-Imagn Images
