It seems Lane Kiffin isn’t just fishing for Grouper in the Bahamas—he’s fishing for a little friendly SEC rivalry too. The Ole Miss Rebels head coach has once again stirred the pot with Auburn Tigers HC Hugh Freeze, and this time, it wasn’t about landing a top recruit or snagging a new coaching hire. Nope, this feud was reignited with a rod, a reel, and a massive fish.
After a rollercoaster 2024 season where the Rebels flirted with playoff dreams but ultimately settled for a 10-3 record, Kiffin decided to trade playbooks for bait. The 49-year-old coach, known for his love of deep-sea fishing, took to the turquoise waters of the Bahamas for a much-needed break from the gridiron grind. But, as Kiffin often proves, even in relaxation, he knows how to keep things entertaining—and petty.
On February 5, Kiffin posted a photo from his yacht, decked out in beach gear with a cap, sunglasses, and shorts. But it wasn’t his laid-back look that caught the SEC’s attention—it was the colossal Scamp Grouper he proudly hoisted. His smirk practically screamed, “Top that!” But if his face wasn’t enough of a flex, the caption made it crystal clear: “What ya got, @coachhughfreeze?”
Now, this wasn’t just a random jab; it was a calculated cast into an old, simmering rivalry that’s been hooked since 2022. That’s when Freeze, still coaching at Liberty at the time, flaunted his own fishing prowess on Twitter with a hefty Mahi-Mahi, captioned simply, “Yahtzee.” Never one to let a challenge go unanswered, Kiffin fired back two days later with his own Mahi-Mahi photo, tagging the SEC and adding, “IT JUST MEANS MORE.”
Freeze didn’t take the bait quietly. He clapped back with a not-so-subtle reminder of his past success at Ole Miss, retweeting a photo of his 2016 Sugar Bowl victory. The dig stung, especially since Kiffin’s Rebels had just fallen short in the 2022 Sugar Bowl against Baylor.
But this rivalry isn’t just about who can reel in the bigger fish. It’s seeped into the coaching trenches too.
From Fishing Lines to Sidelines: The Kiffin-Freeze Drama Unfolds
Fast forward to September 2024, and the tension between Kiffin and Freeze boiled over once again—this time, in the press room. Freeze, now Auburn’s head coach, threw what seemed like a harmless compliment toward Ole Miss’s NIL setup, particularly praising The Grove Collective. “I think there’s some who are doing it well, if you look at like Ole Miss and Missouri,” Freeze remarked during a press conference, acknowledging the Rebels’ effective NIL strategies in the ever-evolving landscape of college football.
But Kiffin isn’t one to let Freeze’s words float by without a response. When asked about Freeze’s praise, Kiffin couldn’t resist taking the hook deeper. “That is nice of Coach Freeze to compliment our management of our collective,” he began, his tone dripping with sarcasm. But then, in classic Kiffin fashion, he went for the jugular: “I’m sure he’ll [Freeze] try to steal Walker Jones like he’s tried all of our coaches also.”
For those not in the loop, Walker Jones is the executive director of The Grove Collective—the very entity Freeze had just complimented. Kiffin’s jab wasn’t unfounded, either. Freeze had already poached Derrick Nix, a longtime Ole Miss staffer, to serve as Auburn’s new offensive coordinator. The betrayal clearly left a lasting sting for Kiffin.
Hook, Line, and Sinker: The Rivalry That Won’t Die
While Kiffin may have hung up his whistle for a bit, his competitive spirit clearly doesn’t take vacations. This latest fishing flex isn’t just about showcasing his deep-sea skills—it’s a playful yet pointed reminder that the Kiffin-Freeze rivalry is alive and well, whether on the field or out at sea.
But what’s next for these SEC frenemies? Will Freeze rise to the challenge with his own trophy catch, or will he fire back with another coaching move that ruffles Kiffin’s feathers? One thing’s for sure: when it comes to Lane Kiffin and Hugh Freeze, the waters are never calm for long.
For now, Kiffin’s got the last laugh—and the bigger fish.
