Rebels Lane Kiffin Lands In Top 5 Of CBS Sports SEC Coach Rankings
Coaching rankings are subject to opinion and can only be determined within the eyes of the beholder. Where does Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin rank among those in the SEC entering Year 4 with the Rebels?
CBS Sports recently released its Power Five and conference coaching rankings heading into the 2023 season. Since arriving in Oxford in 2020, Kiffin has meticulously climbed the ladder, reaching as high as No. 6 following a 10-2 finish in 2021.
In the latest polls, Kiffin landed inside the top five at No. 4 among SEC coaches. At the national level, Kiffin debuted in the top 15, coming in at No. 14 behind TCU's Sonny Dykes, Kansas State's Chris Klieman and UCLA's Chip Kelly.
Kiffin took over Ole Miss following the lackluster Matt Luke era and has given Rebel fans hope for the first time since Hugh Freeze roamed the sidelines in Oxford. Kiffin is 23-13 in three years leading the Rebels, which includes a 10-3 mark and No. 11 overall final ranking in 2021. What's more, he has welcomed the new era of college football and earned the moniker the "portal king" due to his success luring players to town via the transfer portal - CBS Sports
If not for a sluggish finish down the stretch, perhaps Kiffin would have garnered top-10 status in preparation for the 2023 season. The Rebels started hot, winning eight of their first nine games while earning a spot in the AP Poll's top 10. Following a victory over Texas A&M, Ole Miss went on to lose four straight, including the Egg Bowl to Mike Leach and the Texas Bowl to Texas Tech.
Few have worked the transfer portal in their favor like Kiffin. While Ole Miss finds itself middle of the pack among programs on the recruiting trail, its transfer portal classes often rank top-three nationally. Following the first 10-win regular season in program history, Kiffin scowered the realm for talents like quarterback Jaxson Dart (USC), tight end Michael Trigg (USC), running back Zach Evans (TCU), defensive back Isheem Young (Iowa State) and defensive lineman JJ Pegues (Auburn).
This offseason, Kiffin dominated the portal again, finishing 11th in the On3 transfer portal rankings for 2023. Dart will need to meet expectations after mixed play last fall, but competition surrounds him with the additons of Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders and LSU's Walker Howard.
The Rebels also added premier receiver talent in All-Conference USA standouts Zakhari Franklin (UTSA) and Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech). The program fortified its receiving room with the addition of Memphis tight end Caden Prieskorn.
Kiffin's fourth-place status could come as a shock for those listed behind him rather than in front. Alabama's Nick Saban claimed the top spot once more after leading the Crimson Tide to an 11-2 finish with Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State. Georiga's Kirby Smart ranked second for the third consecutive season after winning his second national title in Athens, but did surpass Clemson's Dabo Swinney for the No. 2 spot nationally.
After revamping the program's persona in one offseason, LSU's Brian Kelly climbed two spots to No. 3 entering Year 2 in Baton Rouge. The Tigers pulled off wins over Ole Miss, Alabama, and Auburn to win the SEC West division. After finishing 10-4, LSU is a favorite to represent the SEC in the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee's Josh Heupel rounded out the top five after leading the Volunteers to an 11-2 finish in his second season. Heupel, whose up-tempo offense led the nation in scoring (46.1 points per game), ended a 15-year losing streak to cross-division rival Alabama and pulled off upset wins over LSU, Kenutcky and Pitt.
Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher dropped four spots to No. 7 after finishing 5-7 in College Station last season. South Carolina's Shane Beamer moved into the top 10 for the first time after posting back-to-back eight-win seasons in Columbia. Newcomer Zach Arnett, who was hired following the tragic passing of Leach last December, rounded out the group at No. 14.
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