"I have to give Lane Kiffin a lot of respect": Middle Tennessee's Derek Mason praises Ole Miss HC ahead of Week 2 game

Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels kicked off the 2024 season with a bang. The Rebels secured a Week 1 victory against Furman, defeating them with a 76-0 final score. Kiffin and his team are now scheduled to take on Middle Tennessee in week 2.

On Monday, during Middle Tennessee's weekly press conference, head coach Derek Mason had high praise for Lane Kiffin. He talked about how the Ole Miss head coach is a talented offensive mastermind and how players under their guidance always find a way to be useful on the gridiron.

"I have to give Lane Kiffin a lot of respect," Mason said. "What we have to know and understand is that he's one of the most respected offensive minds in college football. Him and Sark (Steve Sarkisian), those guys are terrific at being able to play the chess match of players. It's not really your X's and O's, it's how they find ways to get players the ball. Their best players will always get touches."

Lane Kiffin has been the head coach of the Rebels since 2020. Last season, he was successful in leading them to an 11-2 overall campaign and a Peach Bowl victory against Penn State. Kiffin is yet to lead the Rebels to a conference and natty championship.

This season, with the new 12-team playoffs in place, the Ole Miss Rebels have the chance to be one of the teams that qualify for the playoffs. If Kiffin manages to pull it off, then it will be his first playoff appearance with the Rebels during his stint with Ole Miss.

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How to watch Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss take on Middle Tennessee?

The Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee week 2 showdown is scheduled to be played on Saturday, September 7. The game is slated to kick off at 4:15 p.m. ET. Fans will be able to catch all the action of the game from the comfort of their homes. It will be played at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, the home of the Ole Miss Rebels.

The game will be broadcast on television on the SEC Network. Apart from this, the live stream of the Ole Miss vs. Middle Tennessee showdown will also be available on various streaming platforms, such as FuboTV, SlingTV and others.

Can the Rebels continue their winning momentum, or will Middle Tennessee be the first setback for them this campaign?