Ole Miss Football’s Lane Kiffin Named to National Coaching Award Watch List

The Ole Miss Rebels received a number of midseason honors on Thursday.

First, wide receiver Tre Harris was placed on the midseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, given annually to college football’s best player. Then, defensive tackle Walter Nolen and linebacker Pooh Paul were named to the Bednarik Award watch list, an honor that recognizes the best defender in the country.

It looks like head coach Lane Kiffin needs to get in on the fun too.

Kiffin was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Midseason Watch List on Thursday, marking one of 20 coaches to receive the award and one of six from the SEC. This award is given annually to a coach who “extends success on the stage while emphasizing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.”

The Kiffin’s Rebels haven’t had the start to the year they were hoping for, but they maintain an overall record of 5-2 as they bounce back from this bye week. Ole Miss entered the year with College Football Playoff aspirations, and while those hopes still exist, there is little to no room for error down the road as the Rebels would likely have to win to get in the field .

Still, Kiffin has taken Ole Miss to new heights under his five years at the helm. The Rebels have won 10 regular-season games twice (2021, 2023) and also posted a program-best 11 wins in a single season last year. Ole Miss has been to two New Year’s Six bowls, and the NIL world around the Rebels has grown tremendously and helped assemble this talented squad in Oxford.

However, a 1-2 mark in the SEC is something that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Kiffin and his team, and they will look to get back on track next Saturday at home against Oklahoma. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and the game will be televised on ABC or ESPN.

READ MORE Ole Miss content on SI:

– Ole Miss football “Swiss Army Knife” Suntarine Perkins is top 10 in QB pressures

– ‘Destructive!’ Ole Miss WR Cayden Lee leans on his teammates after the LSU loss

– Lane Kiffin offers words of encouragement after Ole Miss’ loss to LSU

– Can Ole Football finish better after the bye week?

– Why Lane Kiffin isn’t “overreacting” to Ole Miss’ loss to LSU on Saturday