Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M have yet to reach bowl eligibility after losing to Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon. It was a blood bath on social media after the clock hit zero.
Although the Aggies nearly mounted a second-half comeback, the Rebels proved resilient and powered through. They blocked a game-tying field goal attempt as time expired in the fourth quarter to move to 8-1 for just the third time in program history— and the second time under Kiffin.
As a result, one of the most talented rosters in college football is 5-4. If Fisher’s seat was heating up before, it is scorching after losing on the road in Oxford.
His massive $75+ million buyout continues to be an issue, but that’s a separate conversation. Oil prices will determine if the A&M fanbase can afford to pay him not to coach their team.
In the meantime, Fisher has to wallow in a loss to his bitter rival. He and Kiffin have exchanged jabs back and forth over the last few years. The latter often pokes at the massive NIL budget in College Station. The former gets butthurt and always comes back with some kind of defensive, angry rebuttal.
Fisher once went so far as to call Kiffin a clown.
Needless to say, no love is lost between the two. That was abundantly clear during pregame on Saturday.
Kiffin went over to shake Fisher’s hand before kickoff. It could not have been more uncomfortable.
Actually, it could have been more uncomfortable. It could have been the postgame handshake.
Jimbo Fisher and Lane Kiffin met at midfield after the missed kick. Fisher’s hand was as limp as a wet noodle.
The exchange was cordial. There was no feistiness from either guy.
With that being said, you can see in Fisher’s body language that he was trying so hard not to let his disappointment show. Kiffin has his number in recent years and he must hate that.