Lane Kiffin: 'It's good to know Bryce Young won't be there' for Alabama game

Lane Kiffin is quite glad Ole Miss doesn’t have to deal with Bryce Young under center for Alabama this season.

Alabama does have a bit of quarterback conundrum this year, playing three different guys: Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson. It remains to be seen who will start against the Rebels as Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa.

Regardless, it’s not Young, which Kiffin is happy about. But that doesn’t make the game any easier.

“Well it’s good to know Bryce won’t be there,” Kiffin said. “That’s very positive. I mean, we all got our issues and, you know, this is one of the best teams or the best team in the last 15 years and one of the hardest places to play.

“Just because Texas won one in there, I mean, it didn’t get easier. So it’s a huge challenge, a dynasty and gotta do a lot of work to be able to be on the field with those guys. (They have) premier recruiting classes of five star players everywhere.”

Last season, Young led the Crimson Tide to a 30-24 win and finished 21-of-33 passing for 209 yards and three touchdowns. The year before, Alabama won 42-21 and Young threw for 241 yards on 20-of-26 passing and two touchdowns and one interception.

If Ole Miss has any consolation, despite its lack of success against Alabama under Kiffin, it has Jaxson Dart.

Dart went off in the 48-23 win over Georgia Tech. He went 10-of-18 passing for 251 yards, one touchdown, 136 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

“Quite honestly going into the game I didn’t think I was going to run as much as I did,” Dart said postgame. “After the first few drives, talked to coach (Charlie) Weis and coach (Sterlin) Gilbert and they kind of told me it was just going to be that kind of a game. I love that part of the sport. I love that part of football. My dad always raised me to be a football player before a quarterback. I just always loved the physicality of it, for sure.”

According to the early lines, Alabama is a 7.5 point favorite at home. That shouldn’t be surprising considering the where and the history.

But with the way both teams looked through the first three weeks, maybe Ole Miss does upset Alabama.

At least Kiffin won’t have to game plan for Young.