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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Peach Buzz: Rebs Arrive in ATL
12/26/2023 | Football
ATLANTA – It was a Merry Christmas for the No. 11 Ole Miss football team as Lane Kiffin and the Rebels arrived in Atlanta on Monday for the 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against No. 10 Penn State.
Kiffin met with the media Tuesday ahead of the Rebels' practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Plenty of fun bowl festivities are on the docket for the team, but the Ole Miss coaching staff is making sure its players keep game prep the top priority.
"We're excited to be here, to be part of this huge matchup and big-time bowl game and to be able to play Penn State and Coach Franklin that have done such a great job, not just this year, but a lot of years in a row here of a great run," Kiffin said. "So this is a really big challenge for us. We're excited to be in Atlanta with a lot of events coming up and a lot of work to still do."
It has been a busy holiday season for Kiffin and the Rebel coaching staff, who secured a top-20 class on signing day and currently have the No. 1 transfer portal class in college football. Kiffin also signed a contract extension in the off time since Ole Miss capped its regular season with a Thanksgiving day win over Mississippi State.
"I'm very grateful to be hired here in the first place four seasons ago and to get an extension, which didn't change any financial part of the situation, just added length and commitment that this is where we want to be and commitment from the university. So just really pleased to be part of that," Kiffin said. "Very grateful for our staff, for our leadership here and our players. They've done amazing to win 10 games two of the last three seasons. I think of where it was when I got here and where it is now and what's going on in recruiting that will lead to next year is really amazing just to be a part of. Excited to watch these guys play one more game."
With the fervent December recruiting and coaching corral season in the rearview, Kiffin is ready to see his team close out the season in a New Year's Six bowl for the second time in three years. With the bowl game taking place on Saturday, Ole Miss will follow its regular game week schedule in preparation, including a practice session Tuesday at the stadium.
"Yeah, we're actually kind of finally to a normal part now where today's Tuesday and we actually play on a Saturday. So it's a normal week for us. We're just in a hotel in a different city," Kiffin said. "Previous to this, it's been a little chaotic, with not just recruiting and flying around trying to get back for practice, a lot of the assistant coaches not at the practices, but then dealing with the portal, going to other universities to see kids and dealing with keeping our own kids."
Ole Miss has had just one opt-out for the bowl game, defensive lineman Cedric Johnson. Penn State also had one of its top pass rushers, Chop Robinson, skip the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Several Nittany Lions have declared for the draft but will play in or at least travel for the Peach Bowl.
Regardless of which players do or don't play for Penn State, Kiffin is expecting a difficult challenge from one of the stingiest defenses in college football.
"I think they play really hard," Kiffin said. "Obviously they have great players, elite talent, great coaching. But they play really, really hard and really physical at home and on the road. Sometimes you see these teams with electric home atmospheres and advantages, like these guys have, like some of the SEC teams, but then they won't play quite as hard defensively on the road. These guys are not like that. These guys bring an old-school mentality with new-school elite talent."
Party in the ATL
Limited bowl tickets are still available through the Ole Miss ticket office. All lower level seating is sold out for the Ole Miss allotment. 300 Level tickets may be purchased in the Ole Miss sections at OleMissTix.com.
Grab the latest bowl gear and your Red gameday outfit through Ole Miss Authentics!
2024 Party in the Sip Sweepstakes
Don't miss any of the action in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2024. Fans interested in 2024 football tickets can join our ticket interest list to be the first to know when tickets are available, and to enter the Party in the Sip Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a VIP package for the home opener on August 31. The VIP package includes a premium tailgate experience, participation in the Walk of Champions, two sideline passes, and two field suite tickets.
Kiffin met with the media Tuesday ahead of the Rebels' practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Plenty of fun bowl festivities are on the docket for the team, but the Ole Miss coaching staff is making sure its players keep game prep the top priority.
"We're excited to be here, to be part of this huge matchup and big-time bowl game and to be able to play Penn State and Coach Franklin that have done such a great job, not just this year, but a lot of years in a row here of a great run," Kiffin said. "So this is a really big challenge for us. We're excited to be in Atlanta with a lot of events coming up and a lot of work to still do."
Welcome to Atlanta ☔️@CFAPeachBowl | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/RDmK1o4R11
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 26, 2023
NY6 Game Week 🍑
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 25, 2023
🆚 Penn State
🗓️ Dec. 30
🕚 11:00 AM CT
📺 ESPN@CFAPeachBowl | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/ztNnGWUine
It has been a busy holiday season for Kiffin and the Rebel coaching staff, who secured a top-20 class on signing day and currently have the No. 1 transfer portal class in college football. Kiffin also signed a contract extension in the off time since Ole Miss capped its regular season with a Thanksgiving day win over Mississippi State.
"I'm very grateful to be hired here in the first place four seasons ago and to get an extension, which didn't change any financial part of the situation, just added length and commitment that this is where we want to be and commitment from the university. So just really pleased to be part of that," Kiffin said. "Very grateful for our staff, for our leadership here and our players. They've done amazing to win 10 games two of the last three seasons. I think of where it was when I got here and where it is now and what's going on in recruiting that will lead to next year is really amazing just to be a part of. Excited to watch these guys play one more game."
With the fervent December recruiting and coaching corral season in the rearview, Kiffin is ready to see his team close out the season in a New Year's Six bowl for the second time in three years. With the bowl game taking place on Saturday, Ole Miss will follow its regular game week schedule in preparation, including a practice session Tuesday at the stadium.
"Yeah, we're actually kind of finally to a normal part now where today's Tuesday and we actually play on a Saturday. So it's a normal week for us. We're just in a hotel in a different city," Kiffin said. "Previous to this, it's been a little chaotic, with not just recruiting and flying around trying to get back for practice, a lot of the assistant coaches not at the practices, but then dealing with the portal, going to other universities to see kids and dealing with keeping our own kids."
Ole Miss has had just one opt-out for the bowl game, defensive lineman Cedric Johnson. Penn State also had one of its top pass rushers, Chop Robinson, skip the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Several Nittany Lions have declared for the draft but will play in or at least travel for the Peach Bowl.
Regardless of which players do or don't play for Penn State, Kiffin is expecting a difficult challenge from one of the stingiest defenses in college football.
"I think they play really hard," Kiffin said. "Obviously they have great players, elite talent, great coaching. But they play really, really hard and really physical at home and on the road. Sometimes you see these teams with electric home atmospheres and advantages, like these guys have, like some of the SEC teams, but then they won't play quite as hard defensively on the road. These guys are not like that. These guys bring an old-school mentality with new-school elite talent."
Party in the ATL
Limited bowl tickets are still available through the Ole Miss ticket office. All lower level seating is sold out for the Ole Miss allotment. 300 Level tickets may be purchased in the Ole Miss sections at OleMissTix.com.
Grab the latest bowl gear and your Red gameday outfit through Ole Miss Authentics!
2024 Party in the Sip Sweepstakes
Don't miss any of the action in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2024. Fans interested in 2024 football tickets can join our ticket interest list to be the first to know when tickets are available, and to enter the Party in the Sip Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a VIP package for the home opener on August 31. The VIP package includes a premium tailgate experience, participation in the Walk of Champions, two sideline passes, and two field suite tickets.
Players Mentioned
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