10-3 overall record! That’s how Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels pushed themselves to the maximum limit to chase the Natty. Were they successful? Nope. Kiffin and co. wrapped up the season with a 10-3 overall record. If the head coach had thought that the 2025 season would be his year, he had already gotten a reality check in keeping the talent close to him. Thanks to the transfer portal. But looks like things are finally falling into place as he hunted down an Oklahoma State transfer. While Kiffin might be happy about it, this news robs one person of sleep. That’s none other than Austin Simmons. While Simmons needs a glowup, the head coach too needs to hit the ‘TRANSFORM’ button amidst tough SEC reality.
“Which team is the most likely candidate for a serious step back this season in the SEC?” This was the topic of discussion on the On3 podcast, featuring Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman. And Wasserman did not mince his words while sharing his take. “I’m going with Ole Miss here.” Why though? Because of the brain drain. Kiffin has lost a flock of players to the NFL. The count says 11, and it consists of the notable ones like quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Tre Harris, among a bunch of others. Then came the transfer portal. Ole Miss ended up losing 18 players. However, now Kiffin is taking baby steps towards filling the gaps, little by little.
BREAKING: Oklahoma State transfer QB Maealiuaki Smith has signed with Ole Miss, @PeteNakos_ reports
Smith tossed for 489 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. https://t.co/TwubGv61BH pic.twitter.com/hQM676Gu46
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) May 6, 2025
On May 6, On3’s Transfer Portal page landed a big update on X. It read, “BREAKING: Oklahoma State transfer QB Maealiuaki Smith has signed with Ole Miss, @PeteNakos_reports.” Yes, Maealiuaki Smith has grabbed a ticket and is heading to Oxford. And with this, he has maintained the tradition. Smith is the second quarterback in three seasons to transfer from OSU to Ole Miss. The 6-foot-4, 185-pounder was a true freshman at OSU in 2024 and comes to Ole Miss with four seasons of eligibility. Back at the Cowboys camp, he came up with 489 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. In that way, Smith’s stats were not as efficient as a starter. However, his performance in one particular game was enough to prove that he can compete at the FBS level.
Maybe, that’s what caught Kiffin’s attention. His highlight feat came against Texas Tech. The Cowboys battled in a shootout, and he kept them in it down the stretch, even though the team ultimately fell 56-48. In that game itself, he threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns against the Red Raiders, while also throwing one pick. That’s how Simmons’ seat is heating up. Apparently it all looks on point for the quarterback. Do you remember what ESPN’s Pete Thamel said about Kiffin’s prospective QB1, Simmons?
“I am very interested in the Ole Miss Rebels. I am very interested in Austin Simmons, a lefty who is just dripping with talent. He’s the first in my memory… early, early enrollee, right? He went two classes early. And talented baseball player as well, though he’s given that up.” So, the quarterback has set his foot firmly on the ground. But there prevails some large gaps. Not just the quarterback. Even Kiffin lands in a sticky spot.
SEC insider throws cold water on Lane Kiffin’s program hype
The ceiling is pretty high for Simmons. Thanks to Kiffin’s ‘Dark Horse’ Dart. The former quarterback holds the record of most wins (28), highest winning percentage (.737), and career total offense (12,115). Plus, he has been the all-time leading passer in Kiffin’s squad. However, Steven Willis has drawn a bitter conclusion. “The roster at Ole Miss is not as good as the one that was in 2024 obviously,” he said. Maybe, that’s because he fails to count on Simmons taking the reins in Dart’s absence.
As he said, “Everybody is so hyped out about Austin Simmons and what he can do with the quarterback position, but the experience just isn’t there, so there’s a little bit of an element of wait and see.” And guess what is going to add to Kiffin’s woes? The SEC reality. While the schedule turns out to be in their favor, the high standards that Kiffin had set for himself will be the villain here. As Cousin Shane shared, an 8-4 season looks great for Mississippi State and the Vanderbilt Commodores. And what about the Rebels?
“It will not be for Ole Miss because of the standards Lane Kiffin’s created. But that’s exactly where they’re going to land this year—8–4.” However, what’s the problem out here? It’s the head coach’s chillaxed attitude. As SEC insider Mike shared, “Kiffin seems very relaxed these days—but will that pay off? I don’t know, because I thought maybe he was a little tight last year.” No more cruising—Kiffin must shift gears to stay in the SEC spotlight.
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