It looks like Peanut the Squirrel, as Ole Miss fans have named the adorable creature, is set to be a regular visitor to Rebels games.
Peanut made another special appearance at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium as the Rebels were moving on offense and facing a third-and-1 — causing a delay in the game. Peanut also made it to the game last week at Vaught Hemmingway, when Ole Miss hosted Oklahoma during a 26-14 win.
Looking at the wins and Peanut’s appearances, the squirrel looks like a lucky charm for the Rebels. Matt Mitchel on X thinks that Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is behind the act and is proud of him.
“Lane Kiffin is absolutely releasing squirrels on the field instead of faking injuries now and it’s absolutely genius,” Mitchell tweeted.
So wild, that it didn’t miss to catch the Ole Miss head coach’s eye even on a game-day, as he reacted with a raised-brow emoji to the theory.
“Well, he’s more than 300 pounds. It is that little creature that has brought out a delay,” ABC broadcaster Sean McDonough said on the broadcast.
Squirrels or not, Lane Kiffin is winning games for Ole Miss
Prank or not, Lane Kiffin and Co. are recovering well from their mid-season rough patch after two losses against Kentucky and LSU.
With an 8-2 record now, and 4-2 in the SEC, Ole Miss appears poised to be a College Football Playoff team this year, especially after they defeated a struggling Georgia with a 28-10 upset win.
After having two losses early on, Ole Miss was considered as good as out of the picture. But Kiffin’s program made a solid comeback with his back-to-back wins.
When the initial College Football Playoff Rankings came out last week, the Rebels were ranked at No. 15, squarely on the bubble. This win will not only push the Rebels out of that bubble but will also likely land them in the top 10.
