The Ole Miss Rebels will take on the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
When looking at the bracket, this is undoubtedly a surprising matchup for the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State and Georgia were the clear favorites to meet in this semifinal.
Especially with the drastic changes forced upon Ole Miss, no one took them seriously without Lane Kiffin. The Rebels have looked motivated under new head coach Pete Golding. Ole Miss appointed him as the permanent head coach soon after Kiffin departed for LSU—Kiffin, who reportedly wished to coach the team through the playoffs.
With Kiffin being denied the right to coach his team further, he's been making it known that he's watching and supporting the Rebels from afar. After all, he certainly has a monetary incentive for wanting his former school to win the national championship.
Some believed Kiffin would have shown up to the Sugar Bowl, as it was in New Orleans. However, there were no sightings of the former coach rooting on the Rebels in person. Will Kiffin be at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale to watch Ole Miss take on the Hurricanes?
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Here's everything you need to know about whether Kiffin will be at Thursday evening's game.
Is Lane Kiffin at the Ole Miss game today?
It is unknown whether or not Lane Kiffin will make an appearance at the Fiesta Bowl.
Kiffin had a prime opportunity to show up at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in the quarterfinals. Instead of watching the Rebels take on the Georgia Bulldogs, he was at Pete Maravich Assembly Center watching the LSU women's basketball team.
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Who is with Lane Kiffin?
If Kiffin were to show up in Glendale, it's uncertain who or if he'd bring anyone with him to support the Rebels.
Where is Ole Miss vs. Miami being played?
Thursday evening's game is being played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Ole Miss is listed as a 3-point underdog.
How much does Lane Kiffin make when Ole Miss wins?
Surprisingly, Kiffin is still receiving bonus pay from Ole Miss's CFP run. He was awarded an additional $250,000 following the Rebels' first-round victory over Tulane and $500,000 for defeating Georgia.
If Ole Miss manages to make it to the national championship, Kiffin would receive $750,000, and if they were to win it, Kiffin would pocket $1 million.
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Why did Lane Kiffin leave Ole Miss?
The LSU position was an irresistible opportunity for Kiffin. The program's legacy of national championships and its record of producing NFL draft picks offered Kiffin the chance to achieve greater success as a head coach.
He was the head coach at Ole Miss for six seasons, finishing with a 55-19 record. He departed from Ole Miss soon after the Rebels' regular season concluded with a victory over Mississippi State. That win contributed to Ole Miss achieving its first-ever 11-win season.
However, after the win, Kiffin's official announcement of his decision was reportedly postponed because he tried to keep coaching his team during the playoffs.
We'll see if Kiffin ends up cheering on his former team in Glendale.