What Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin says about upsetting Georgia in front of recruits

OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin has his signature victory. Now it’s time to reap the rewards.

The Rebels beat Georgia 28-10 on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The win bumped Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC) up to No. 11 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the AP Poll. It was its first top-five win since 2015, when it did it against No. 2 Alabama.

Aside from the immense short-term benefit that beating Georgia (7-2, 5-2) did for Ole Miss’ College Football Playoff chances, it also served to send a message to recruits, which Kiffin said he heard firsthand on Sunday.

“Like a kid said after the game, now we know we can come to Ole Miss and play and beat one of the best teams in the country and be one of the best teams in the country,” Kiffin said. “Everything is here for you to have, where maybe before you just had to tell them we’re going to play games like this.”

Ole Miss’s 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 21 in 247Sports Composite rankings.

There was a record crowd of 68,126 at the game. The top-tier win and chaotic field rush contributed to an electric atmosphere. The sideline was packed with recruits before kickoff.

Five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham, currently committed to Alabama, was among the recruits in attendance. Five-star quarterback Deuce Knight, an Auburn commit, was among those who rushed the field after the Rebels sealed the win.

Kiffin said the win — and the dominant fashion it came in — should not be overlooked when it comes to recruiting.

“It really does a lot,” he said. “I don’t know that I realized it during the game. Kind of realized it more after, especially today, as some recruits are still here. I think we’re also going to have a good 48 hours in recruiting also, potentially. I think it was very impactful. People saw it on TV but especially here in person to see the atmosphere.”

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_