The Ole Miss Rebels' defense in 2025 is nothing compared to what it was in 2024, but they have greatly improved from where they started this season in 2025.
Right from holding off SEC offences for the win to improved rankings shows the improvement.
Yet, analyst Colin Cowherd thinks it is the Rebels' sore limitation, one that will severely affect their recruiting.
“I had a really smart guy tell me this, a current college coach, and he was talking about Ole Miss and the limitations,” Cowherd said on The Colin Cowherd podcast.
Cowherd explains how Kiffin, as a head coach has a strong offensive identity. Defensive, not so much.
Top defensive recruits will naturally levitate towards squads that have better or equally good defenses. And that is precisely what Cowherd believes will disrupt Kiffin's recruiting momentum.
“Offensive recruits will follow the coach. They follow Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, Kalen DeBoer. Offensive players want to know the system. Great defensive players, they want to go to Georgia, Texas, LSU,”
“It’s not about scheme. They want NIL money, they want to play in the trenches. That’s the limitation of Ole Miss.”
The Rebels returned only four starters from the previous season to their squad; all others are either transfers or recruits. So far, the Rebels have managed to get into the college football playoffs with them.
And for the recruits, a good post-season, like a semifinal or national championship appearance, also attracts them.
If Ole Miss manages to get to that stage, and most importantly, if Kiffin decides to stay with Ole Miss after the season, the recruits will naturally flock in.