'Cheat Code!' Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin Gives Thoughts on In-Helmet Communication with Quarterbacks

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin thinks that offenses will have a huge advantage in college football with the advent of some new technology.

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (right) and quarterback Jaxson Dart. / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

College football continues to change, and the addition of new technology to the gridiron is no exception.

According to reports from earlier this month, college football is expected to join the NFL in adding in-helmet communication between certain players and coaches this season. That's a change that the Ole Miss Rebels are working to get used to in practice this spring, and head coach Lane Kiffin shared some interesting thoughts on the addition on Tuesday morning.

According to him, this change was often proposed by defensive-minded head coaches on the grounds of preventing the stealing of signals and having communication with the middle linebacker on the field. In Kiffin's eyes, however, this change is actually going to benefit the offense more than the defense this season.

"I've been part of those conversations for a long time," Kiffin said/ "They're usually defensive head coach driven. It's here, and we utilize it in practice. I think differently, especially after using it. I think it's like having a cheat code in Madden offensively, and I don't know that they've really thought defensively of what exactly that means.

"Defensive coaches always wanted it, so it's here."

Ole Miss is known for its high-paced and inventive offense, headlined in recent seasons by quarterback Jaxson Dart. If Kiffin sees this new helmet communication system as an advantage, that is probably a scary thought for other schools around the Southeastern Conference who are slated to face the Rebels this season.

Kiffin's team is still working through spring drills, and it will take the field in the annual Grove Bowl spring game on April 13 to cap off this time on the calendar. The Rebels will open their regular season in 2024 at home against the Furman Paladins on Aug. 31.