Ole habits die hard. The Rebels season spiraling out towards the climax has been a feature of the Lane Kiffin era. Once again, history repeated itself as Ole Miss (8-3) lost 17-24 in a virtual must-win tie to the Florida Gators (6-5). Win out would have most likely sealed their spot, but the Rebels fell on their faces in the Swamp.

The resurgent Gators were always posing a threat to spoil their SEC comrades’ party. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway’s inclusion in tandem with a more assured Billy Napier did a number on Ole Miss. After the close proximity of the SEC teams was a theme in the lead-up to the weekend, all hypothetical scenarios turned futile. College Football legend David Pollack all but confirmed the notion that this result buries the Rebels’ hopes for the CFP.

During a live stream on his own YouTube channel, Pollack said, “I think that’s probably it for their playoff chances. But I tell you what, [with] everybody continuing to lose and things going nuts, I guess we really don’t know. But the problem with Ole Miss is their losses now. Who they lost to is going to continue to stack up [against] them because you lose to an unranked Florida, an unranked Kentucky [and] an unranked LSU. So they got three unranked losses. I think that pretty much, you know, ends the season probably for Ole Miss.”

Lane Kiffin and Co. entered the weekend placed no.9 by the CFP committee. With 2 relatively winnable games left on their schedule, a 10-2 record beckoned. In fact, Kiffin even made comments earlier this week about how it was becoming apparent that SEC teams would rather miss the championship game than make it and lose. Oh, how much would he wish he could eat those words! What Ole Miss fans wouldn’t give up to go to Atlanta now.

So what now? It seemed like there would be a bloodbath in the southeast for playoff berths. Ironically, after Ole Miss and Alabama’s losses, discourse in CFB circles will flip from who deserves to make it through to who deserves to get left at home. Week 13 has thrown a spanner in the works. The ‘SEC homerism and bias ruins football coverage’ brigade prevailed. Pollack and the general consensus still feel a 9-3 SEC team may still sneak in. Kalen DeBoer and Alabama will be that team due to the superior quality of their losses. Ole Miss will, in all likelihood, not play postseason football.

David Pollack ekes out the key factors that led to Ole Miss’ peril

The game itself was an intriguing watch for those of a neutral persuasion. After a shutout first quarter, both teams found an extra gear. It was Ole Miss that was moving the football with more effect for the most part. However, the money downs were a huge issue. The rebels were 3 for 14 on third down. Drives couldn’t be sustained and things unraveled in the death when Jaxson Dart threw 2 picks down the stretch. He is still in the running for creating history at Ole Miss. Dart and his school’s failure would largely be charged to just that- their history. Coming up short in the clutch is developing into something of a modern tradition in Mississippi.

David Pollack touched upon the facets of the game where the Gators outdid the Rebels. “[Florida] ran the rock on Ole Miss, which nobody’s done. They protected their quarterback on Ole Miss, which nobody’s done. That D-line has ate everyone’s life alive. Like they’ve dominated every football game and Florida more than held their own.” Florida have played arguably the single-toughest schedule in the country and the record was perhaps an unfair reflection of their performances.

As for Ole Miss, it is back to the drawing board. With Jaxson Dart’s impending exit, the team stares into an uncertain future under center. Lane Kiffin will hope to build some momentum over the remainder of this season and hope it permeates into a more successful 2025.