SEC Rivalries & Coaching Legacies

When the Ole Miss Rebels and the LSU Tigers square off, it’s always a highlight on the SEC calendar. But for some of us, this particular matchup carries an extra layer of intrigue, especially when you consider the men leading the charge on each sideline: Lane Kiffin for Ole Miss and Ed Orgeron for LSU. Their paths, it turns out, have crossed in some rather memorable ways over the years, nearly culminating in a reunion that would have shaken up Baton Rouge football in a big way.

Rewind a bit, and you’ll find Kiffin and Orgeron sharing a locker room, though under different circumstances, at USC. Back then, Lane Kiffin was the head coach for the Trojans, a position he held from 2010 to 2013. Ed Orgeron, with his distinctive voice and fiery personality, was a vital part of Kiffin's staff, serving as the associate head coach and defensive line coach. They worked side-by-side, navigating the high-pressure world of Pac-12 football, which let's be honest, is intense enough without the added glare of the Hollywood lights. When Kiffin was famously let go on the tarmac after a tough loss, it was Orgeron who stepped in, taking the reins as interim head coach and actually injecting a bit of new life into the program.

Fast forward a few years, and Orgeron, after a successful stint as interim coach and a few other roles, had landed the top job at LSU. Now, picture this: one of his very first big decisions, a crucial hire for his offensive coordinator position, almost brought Kiffin back into his orbit. There was serious talk, very serious talk indeed, of Kiffin joining Orgeron in Baton Rouge. Can you imagine the buzz? Kiffin, the offensive guru, paired with Orgeron, the defensive powerhouse, both having such a shared past, nearly teaming up to conquer the SEC West.

In fact, the whispers were more than just whispers. Kiffin was reportedly on LSU's campus, deep in discussions, seriously weighing the opportunity. The thought of rekindling that working relationship, this time with Orgeron as the head coach, must have been a unique proposition. But ultimately, Kiffin opted for a different path, choosing to take the head coaching job at FAU, a move that surprised many at the time. He later spent a season at Alabama as offensive coordinator under Nick Saban, fine-tuning his craft before eventually landing in Oxford with the Rebels.

So, as Ole Miss and LSU prepare to clash, it's not just a contest of schemes and talent; it's a chapter in a long, winding story for these two coaches. Their journey from USC to nearly reuniting at LSU, and now facing each other as rivals in the ultra-competitive SEC, truly adds a layer of depth to what would already be an exciting game. It's a testament to the unpredictable nature of college football and the enduring relationships, and rivalries, that define it.