Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy offers icy reply to Lane Kiffin question ahead of LSU matchup

Mississippi Rebels running back Kewan Lacy. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy offers icy reply to Lane Kiffin question ahead of LSU matchup

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 15, 2026 11:39 PM ET

We're guessing Ole Miss Rebels junior running back Kewan Lacy deleted former head coach Lane Kiffin from his contacts.

Kiffin returns to Oxford this Saturday for the first time since he flocked to the LSU Tigers before last season's College Football Playoff. Lacy clearly remains bitter about the coach's departure.

Kewan Lacy speaks on relationship with Lane Kiffin

Lacy said he doesn't have "a relationship with [Kiffin]" during his Tuesday news conference (h/t Bleacher Report).

That's a stretch. Lacy, a former Missouri Tiger, played for Kiffin for one season, but it appeared they were cordial. The coach even let him pop in during an interview with ESPN's Pat McAfee in November 2025. Fast forward to the 1:06 mark, and you'll see the RB cameo.

Kewan Lacy just wants to spot the ball

(via Ole Miss Athletics/YT) pic.twitter.com/TMxKupH2Eg
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) September 15, 2026

Lacy may be trying to pretend he never bonded with Kiffin to lock in for Saturday's matchup, which will be a media circus.

“There has been no ultimatum and that’s absolutely not true..

We’re having a blast and I love it here” @Lane_Kiffin #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/wTGK20s1pr
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 18, 2025

The contest, which will be the site of Week 3 of ESPN's "College GameDay," should now draw even more viewers. Kiffin has only become more polarizing since leaving Ole Miss. The coach tried to add NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to his roster but changed course after the SEC threatened to expel LSU from the conference.

All the hoopla heading into the prime-time matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC could distract No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0), which is aiming to return to the CFP. No. 7 LSU (2-0) is also in the way-too-early championship conversation.

As of Tuesday night, DraftKings Sportsbook lists LSU as a three-point favorite. If Lacy finds his groove, Ole Miss could pull off the upset. The star RB battled a leg injury in Week 1, limiting him to 61 yards and one TD on 17 carries in a 41-38 win over the No. 23 Louisville Cardinals (1-1). He rebounded in Week 2, running for 87 yards and two TDs on 13 carries in a 41-9 win over the Charlotte 49ers (0-2).

Lacy says he doesn't remember much about Kiffin, but he'll want to remind the coach why he misses him in Week 3.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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