Lane Kiffin has carved quite the reputation for himself as the “Portal King,” a nod to his savvy use of the NCAA Transfer Portal over the years, bringing in talent to bolster the Ole Miss squad. Yet, despite this success, Kiffin hasn’t shied away from criticizing what he sees as a flawed system, especially when it comes to the timing of the portal’s opening while teams are gearing up for bowl games.
After a commanding 52-20 victory over Duke in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium, the outspoken Ole Miss head coach voiced his frustrations again. “I think it’s a really broke system that’s got to be fixed,” Kiffin remarked. “We’ve lost players to the portal, including a couple of starters who could’ve played for us, affecting our team just as much as our opponents.”
Duke felt the sting too, missing their starting quarterback, Maalik Murphy, who entered the portal as soon as it opened on December 9 and quickly committed to Oregon State. Backup QB Grayson Loftis also moved on to Charlotte. This left Henry Belin IV to take the reins against Ole Miss, where he threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, with one pick, in a tough outing.
Ole Miss had its portal woes as well, playing without key contributors like right tackle Micah Pettus, now committed to FSU, and defensive back Jadon Canady. Yet, despite being in the portal, safety Louis Moore and reserve receiver Micah Davis suited up, with Moore having just committed to Indiana days before.
Kiffin was particularly proud of his offense, which sliced through what he described as a formidable defense. “That was our offensive players playing really well against a tough scheme,” he observed, noting his Rebels racked up 589 offensive yards. Quarterback Jaxson Dart shone brightly, with 404 yards and four touchdown passes, showcasing his senior prowess.
The win was not just about ending the season on a high note; it was a statement aimed at the College Football Playoff committee, which had left Ole Miss just shy of inclusion in the coveted bracket. Ranked No. 14, the Rebels were painfully close to being a part of the 12-team showdown.
Kiffin, reflecting on the victory, made it clear that the committee’s snub had fueled his team’s performance. “Our guys made a statement, playing incredibly well against a strong ACC team,” he told ESPN’s Taylor McGregor, emphasizing how the victory was a message sent loud and clear.
