COLUMN: Lane Kiffin Finds Much-Needed Signature Win in Thrilling Ole Miss Win Over LSU

Kiffin did on Saturday what previous Ole Miss coaches could not: pull out a back-and-forth game against an arch rival.

How much of a difference does a week make? Just ask Lane Kiffin.

Last week, the Ole Miss Rebels were reeling offensively after yet another disappointing loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. With a potent offense coming into Oxford in the form of Jayden Daniels and the LSU Tigers, things weren't about to get any easier after the loss.

LSU certainly found its fair share of points and yardage on Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, but the Ole Miss offense looked unstoppable in its own right, and it stood on the right side of the scoreboard when the final whistle blew.

Pete Golding's defense struggled on Saturday, which is evident when the two rivals combined for over 1,300 yards of total offense. Even so, key stops late in the game gave the Rebels the ball back with a little over two minutes to play, and one sealed the deal with an incomplete pass as time expired in the win.

Sep 30, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) watches from the sidelines during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

College football's narratives change quickly. Last week, Pete Golding was the star in a strong performance against Alabama. This week, that title belonged to Charlie Weis Jr. and Lane Kiffin. 

Kiffin is right in saying that each week is different, and each team is different in a given season. After negative headlines around Kiffin's coaching and his team's loss last week in Tuscaloosa, he should get the same amount of credit for Ole Miss' win on Saturday night.

The offense looked different this week, didn't it? Putting up 55 points against the reigning SEC West Champions after only mustering 10 a week ago is more than a positive sign for quarterback Jaxson Dart and company. Dart played a nearly-perfect game, tossing four scores behind over 300 yards through the air.

It's well-known what Kiffin can do with quarterbacks, and Dart appears to be the next chapter in that long history.

Successful coaches in college football are remembered for "signature wins." Lane Kiffin just found one of his against an arch rival, and if you're an Ole Miss fan, you're always happy to beat LSU. You're even happier when it happens like it did on Saturday.