The scene that unfolded at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and throughout the town of Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday night is what makes college football so unique. Lane Kiffin's return as the head coach of border rival LSU created one of the most-anticipated games in program history for the Rebels, who secured a dramatic 32-24 win over their former coach. It will go down as one of the all-time most satisfying wins in college football history for any fanbase.
Ole Miss stuck it to the man who left them for a bitterly hated SEC enemy. In the process, they proved they may be built to last. The victory meant more than a "normal" win over a conference rival might, because it was so personal and a top-10 battle with huge stakes.
Identifying exactly what makes a college football victory satisfying is an inexact science, and there are a number of different ways to look at it. In light of the Ole Miss win over LSU and Kiffin, we sought to rank the most satisfying victories in the sport from the past decade. Here is a rundown of those outcomes that most clearly fit the bill.
Kiffin previously returned to Tennessee as Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2016. Later, he returned to Knoxville in 2021 as the Ole Miss coach and was famously targeted by a mustard bottle and a golf ball during the Rebels' controversial 31-26 win. His return to Ole Miss came with even more passion, partially due to the timeline.
Less than a year had passed since he left the Rebels for LSU in an ugly divorce. The Ole Miss victory was satisfying for the Rebels for many reasons. Chief among them is how it illustrated that the program Kiffin helped build is strong enough to last without him.
The Cowboys took advantage by issuing No. 10 OU a 27-24 defeat. It was Oklahoma's second loss, which knocked the Sooners out of the CFP conversation and added to the Cowboys' satisfaction. The teams haven't played since, and there are no firm plans to resume the series.
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