'Very Impressed' Paul Finebaum Changes Tune On Ole Miss Rebels, Lane Kiffin

Paul Finebaum recently gave Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels some praise following their win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Paul Finebaum has been critical of Lane Kiffin in the past (including this season), but earlier this week, he gave the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels some much-needed credit.

The ESPN/SEC Network personality was a guest on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday, and after railing against Kiffin following his loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide earlier in the year, he gave the coach praise for how his team has responded with wins over the LSU Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks.

“I’m very impressed by what he’s done since that debacle against Alabama,” Finebaum said. “I say that because I just felt like there were too many unforced errors. I think Ole Miss is a good team. The issue on establishing a running attack is problematic, but I think this off-week has come at a really good time for them.

“The Georgia game down the road still has to quash anyone from thinking they can make a serious run.”

Jul 20, 2021; Hoover, Alabama, USA; Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin talks with SEC Network personality Paul Finebaum (not pictured) during SEC Media Days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports / © Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Finebaum did include the caveat concerning the Georgia Bulldogs later in the season, but hey, Kiffin should be at least somewhat pleased that he got a positive nod from one of his biggest critics.

The Rebels have recently shown the ability to win games in a variety of ways, putting up 55 points in an offensive shootout against the Tigers before winning a 27-20 defensive battle against the Hogs last Saturday. Now, the focus for Ole Miss is getting healthy during this bye week before traveling to face former head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers.

Ole Miss and Auburn will kick off at 6 p.m. CT on Oct. 21, and the game will be televised on ESPN.