One of the most hilarious rivalries in all of college football doesn’t come on the field, but rather in the media landscape with a longstanding set of friendly jabs between SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum and Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.
While much of it seems like satire, the two have exchanged words for years and Kiffin takes every opportunity to call Finebaum out. Kiffin has never minced words when it comes to his belief that Finebaum’s tirade against him played a heavy role in his firing from USC, and he brought that fact back up this week but said he was grateful:
WATCH:
“If you hadn’t gotten me fired at USC I wouldn’t have ever worked for coach Saban or beaten Georgia, so thanks for that.”
-Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on the Paul Finebaum Show.
pic.twitter.com/ohtKRy2VMD— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) November 13, 2024
“I wouldn’t have this Georgia win if you hadn’t gotten me fired from USC and I wouldn’t have worked for Coach Saban,” Kiffin said, met with a huge laugh from Finebaum. “I’m grateful to you Paul, thanks for that!”
Kiffin’s Rebels are squarely in the picture for the College Football Playoff after the victory over Georgia, and as Kiffin says, none of it would be possible if Finebaum hadn’t gotten him fired from Southern Cal.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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