What Being in The New Year’s 6 Means For Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels have now reached two New Year's Six bowl games in three years under coach Lane Kiffin, and the potential of the program has never been higher.

OXFORD, Miss. – After entering the 2023 college football season with an over/under win total odds of 7.5, the No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels have demolished preseason expectations, obtaining a 10-2 overall record and Peach Bowl appearance versus the No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Rebels have now registered two 10-win regular seasons and two New Year’s Six bowl game appearances in four years with coach Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss could not beat its two toughest opponents this season in the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Rebels proved a lot of naysayers wrong this year. This season, the Rebels had to take on two of the best teams in college football on the road, the 11-2 Tulane Green Wave, the LSU Tigers with their Heisman candidate Jayden Daniels, and still finished with 10 regular season victories.

Ole Miss is only heading in the right direction, and their latest NY6 appearance means a whole lot for Kiffin and the program. 

Under Kiffin, Ole Miss football has reached heights once thought to be unobtainable, and the program appears ready to achieve even more. With the college football playoff set to expand to 12 teams in 2024, the Rebels are in a prime position to secure their first-ever playoff appearance and finally get a shot at playing in more meaningful postseason games.

Ole Miss' success this season will also give the Kiffin a boost regarding high school recruitment.

Nov 18, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) talks with Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) during a time out during the first half against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports   / © Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

"I think it does matter,” Kiffin said on Sunday. “As I said, we're in all day today and after this announcement in recruiting meetings with kids and families. That's pretty neat to say, two of the last three years, to be in New Year's Six bowls. 

“Obviously we have a goal to do better this time around and finish off and have the first 11-win season in the history of the school. Any time your players are having success on the field and doing well helps you in recruiting."

Entering the heat of high school recruitment, Ole Miss owns the No. 21 recruitment class in the country and the No. 11 SEC class in the 2024 cycle, per On3 recruiting.

Ole Miss has an opportunity to set the tone for the 2024 season with a big win over Penn State in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 30. The Rebels have opened as 1.5-point favorites over the Nittany Lions, and a win would give Ole Miss its first 11-win season in program history.

Rebels Open as Slim Betting Favorite vs. Penn State in Peach Bowl

Kickoff between Ole Miss and Penn State is set for 11 a.m. CT on Dec. 30 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the game will be televised on ESPN.