Even with the enlarged College Football Playoff format, there may not be enough room for both No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 13 LSU. Heck, both programs could be left out in the cold when the much-anticipated hearings begin in December. However, if Brian Kelly or Lane Kiffin want to coach in the 2024 CFP, they must win the Magnolia Bowl first.
Both men are under significant pressure to secure one of the coveted 12 berths, so practice should be rigorous this week. The Tigers and Rebels’ longstanding rivalry highlights the significance of Saturday night’s game in Baton Rouge.
Despite Kiffin’s divisive personality, Kelly is not allowing the extraordinarily high stakes to keep him from recognizing the value he offers to the sport.
“I just think you have to look at how many followers he has on Twitter (almost 694,000),” the LSU shot-caller told The Daily Advertiser’s Cory Diaz. “Lane has a positive attitude toward the game, and he’s undoubtedly been an important player in college football. He can make fun of himself and others. “I think he’s good for college football.”
Kiffin’s caustic kind of humor is not for everyone, but he certainly gets people talking. His massive social media following demonstrates that he is one of the most popular athletes the NCAA has at its disposal. It will be easier to elevate him if Ole Miss competes for a national championship, though.
Ole Miss and LSU football both have big ambitions in 2024
The Rebels recovered well from their home upset loss to Kentucky, holding South Carolina out of the end zone in a 27-3 victory last Saturday. LSU is the most talented team they’ll face to this point. Brian Kelly and his Tigers are clearly hungry to revenge their season-opening defeat to USC and secure a big victory.
Desperation should seep through the sidelines and onto the field as Kelly and Kiffin strive to outwit one another and develop a game plan to keep their respective clubs in contention for the playoffs. However, we are still in the complement stage of the buildup to this vital game.
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