Penn State’s staff changes have Ole Miss unsure what to expect in Peach Bowl

No. 11 Mississippi is having to do extra work to prepare for Saturday’s Peach Bowl (noon ET) against No. 10 Penn State with the Nittany Lions welcoming new coordinators on both sides of the ball.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said Tuesday before his team’s first practice in Atlanta that “we don’t have any idea what they’re going to do.”

Can Penn State stop Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl?

Penn State leads the nation in total defense and ranks third with its average of 11.42 points allowed. Those credentials helped defensive coordinator Manny Diaz get hired as Duke‘s head coach.

On Dec. 19, Penn State coach James Franklin hired former Indiana coach Tom Allen as the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator. Allen is with the team in Atlanta, but assistants Anthony Poindexter and Robb Smith are leading the defense for the bowl game.

Meanwhile, Andy Kotelnicki has been hired as Penn State’s new offensive coordinator, but assistants Ja’Quan Seider and Ty Howle will continue to serve as co-coordinators for the bowl game. Penn State was 2-0 with Seider and Howle directing the offense after Franklin fired Mike Yurcich.

With the new full-time coordinators having the opportunity to possibly provide input this week, Kiffin is leery of encountering new looks he can’t add to his game plan.

“People would think, well, that’s in our favor with Manny leaving, but that presents challenges, too,” Kiffin said. “… It’s like opening the season with no preseason games or being someone’s second game. That’s actually a really big challenge.”

Penn State (10-2) scored a combined 69 points in wins over Rutgers and Michigan State to close the regular season and now has had extra practice time with the new offensive play-callers.

“It’s just more that we’re going to have to be ready for,” Kiffin said.

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren said his time with Kotelnicki thus far has been limited to “getting to know him. It’s not really football stuff yet. I think he’s fit well with the guys. We’re starting to get to know him more and more … so when it is time to do football stuff, we’ll be working well together.”

Franklin said the additions of new coordinators created “a little bit different situation” and said their presence in bowl practice will create a smooth transition for 2024.

“Obviously, you’d prefer not to have changes be made, but if they are made, I think there’s a ton of value in doing what we’re doing,” Franklin said. “Tom’s ability to be around the staff. Andy’s ability to be around the staff. Staff meetings, game planning, watching film, watching the players, how we do things.”

As a result, Franklin said the new coordinators won’t have to use spring practice, “still trying to get a feel for how we practice and how we go about our business.”

Kiffin confirmed that senior defensive end Cedric Johnson is the only Rebels player to opt out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. Johnson had five sacks this season and 19 in his career.

When Ole Miss (10-2) accepted the Peach Bowl bid, Kiffin said he didn’t anticipate having any players skip the game.

“I probably jinxed myself by saying that,” Kiffin said, adding Johnson’s decision was “[It was] kind of a surprise to us. So we wish him the best of luck.”

Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson also opted out to prepare for the draft.

Franklin said cornerback Kalen King, who is expected to enter the draft, agreed to a plan “to have him here and be part of the program for one more game.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.  

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