No. 7 Ole Miss defeated Florida 34-24 Saturday night, surging back from a halftime deficit in a game that highlighted the ongoing speculation surrounding Rebels coach Lane Kiffin.
As Kiffin’s team knelt out the final seconds, Ole Miss fans chanted “We want Lane” throughout the stadium. The chants served as a direct response to Florida fans who’ve placed the Rebels coach atop their coaching wishlist.
Kewan Lacy rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. He scored the go-ahead touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter and sealed the victory with a 4-yard scoring run with 1:43 remaining.
The performance powered the Rebels (10-1, 6-1 SEC, No. 7 CFP) to their fourth 10-win season in five years.
Ole Miss totaled 538 yards of offense while holding Florida to just 103 total yards and zero points after halftime. The Gators (3-7, 2-5) led 24-20 at the break but couldn’t sustain their early momentum.
Florida’s lone second-half drive into Rebels territory ended when D.J. Lagway’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Wydett Williams.
Trinidad Chambliss threw for 301 yards and one touchdown for Ole Miss despite two failed goal-line drives. Lagway finished with 218 passing yards and accounted for two Florida touchdowns.
The victory strengthens Ole Miss’s College Football Playoff hopes as the regular season winds down.
Florida’s road losing streak against ranked opponents extended to 20 games. The Gators’ struggles have intensified speculation about their coaching search, with Kiffin remaining their top target.
For now, Kiffin remains in Oxford with no clear indication of his future plans.
