Lane Kiffin's immediate replacement reportedly named ahead of his decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ole Miss has reportedly moved swiftly to prepare for life without Lane Kiffin. If he does leave, quarterbacks coach Joe Judge is expected to be named as the interim replacement.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementESPN's Mark Schlabach reported the plan Friday night following a charged Egg Bowl that ended in a 38-19 Rebel victory. Judge is in his second season coaching at Ole Miss. Judge returned to college ranks after NFL stops with New England and the New York Giants, where he served as head coach from 2020-21.
Judge’s resume includes prior SEC ties. He was a special teams assistant at Alabama from 2009-11, overlapping with Kiffin, and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State, his alma mater, from 2005-07. Judge also worked on MSU’s staff from 2005-07 before entering the NFL under Bill Belichick.
The move to Judge ensures continuity for an Ole Miss roster poised for a possible SEC Championship Game berth and a likely home College Football Playoff first-round game.
The Rebels entered the year with two returning starters and a ninth-place preseason SEC projection, a context Kiffin has frequently cited when praising his team’s resilience.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Kiffin’s decision coming, Judge is expected to guide preparations for postseason play in one of the sport’s most consequential transition points on one the 2025 coaching carousel.
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