Lane Kiffin speaks about importance of winning Egg Bowl, reaching 10 wins

Lane Kiffin knows the importance of the Egg Bowl as Ole Miss looks for payback over Mississippi State from the 2022 edition of the game.

Kiffin also has a chance to get the Rebels back to double-digit wins. That just goes to show how much he impacted the program since taking over. Regardless of the situation, the Egg Bowl is one of the most storied rivalries in college football and Kiffin is ready for another round.

“I mean, it would be huge regardless of that stuff,” Kiffin said. “Because it’s a big rivalry game. So no matter what, it would be big and I think it gets extra big because, you know, losing it last year. And then like you just said there’s a lot to be had, (a chance) to get to 10 wins. 10 regular season wins for the second time in three years and never been done before. Would be pretty neat. And then get through that and then go get to number 11.”

At 5-6, Mississippi State needs a win to get to the postseason, despite firing Zach Arnett prior to the end of the season.

“Definitely, I think there’s some danger in that,” Kiffin said Monday. “Kind of like an all-out factor. Usually a (interim) coach (like Mississippi State’s Greg Knox) in these situations, you just bring energy and be creative and try to be more motivational than Xs and Os. It’s hard to really change philosophy in one or two weeks. So, a lot of times, they usually try to go the motivation route with the players.”

Kiffin is 2-1 in the river game and there was no doubt last year’s loss still stings.

“Need to work to get this trophy back,” Kiffin said. “We screwed it up last year, so now we have a short week to get ready for that.”

Quarterback Jaxson Dart, who already committed to a 2024 return to the program, echoed his head coach’s comments.

“We have to be ten toes down and where our feet are,” Dart said. Dart had his seventh-career 300-yard passing game in the 35-3 win over ULM. He added three touchdowns. 

“We have to make sure that we don’t get too high or too low. It’s funny because when you go out to the Square or out of town, people tell you, ‘We don’t care if you don’t win any other game. We just care that you win the Egg Bowl.’ We understand the importance of it, and we’re excited to go to Starkville and compete.”