A standout moment lit up Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during Ole Miss’ 49-0 rout of The Citadel. At halftime, former Ole Miss athlete Drew O’Connor surprised his girlfriend, Madison Barnette, with a creative on-field proposal that immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention. The scene grew even more memorable when head coach Lane Kiffin wandered onto the field to celebrate with the couple, turning the proposal into a national talking point.
The engagement added a feel-good twist to an already strong afternoon for the seventh-ranked Rebels, who moved to 9-1 and strengthened their College Football Playoff hopes. Kiffin later joked with reporters about accidentally photobombing the moment, adding to the lighthearted buzz surrounding the team’s big win.
Drew O’Connor’s On-Field Proposal To Madison Barnette Gets Surprise Cameo From Lane Kiffin
During a third-quarter timeout, former Ole Miss pole vaulter Drew O’Connor took part in an on-field kicking contest with his girlfriend, Madison Barnette, serving as the holder. But instead of taking the kick, O’Connor knelt down and proposed. The stadium erupted as Barnette said yes, and the two stopped for photos to mark the moment. Then Lane Kiffin strolled over, slipped an arm around the couple, and joined in the celebration, turning the proposal into an instant game-day highlight.
.@Lane_Kiffin wanted to congratulate a successful proposal during the game ❤️@OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/1QJYoWsP7O
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 8, 2025
SEC Network recently shared this viral clip on X, captioning it as: “@Lane_kiffin wanted to congratulate a successful proposal during the game❤️”
After the game, O’Connor and Barnette’s engagement continued to be discussed online, with fans sharing video clips of Kiffin’s impromptu celebration. The event was further amplified by standout performances from quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy.
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“I had no idea I would be part of that. Things happen in the ’Sip, you know? That was pretty cool. I was completely unaware of what was happening. Someone in my ear mentioned it. It was really special to see how the crowd rallied for them,” Kiffin later explained in his postgame press conference.
With the regular season nearing its close, Ole Miss now looks ahead to key matchups and postseason possibilities. Apart from this, Kiffin took a jab at the SEC rival during halftime.
Lane Kiffin Throws Shade At Mississippi State During Halftime
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at SEC rival Mississippi State during his halftime interview against The Citadel. With his team already cruising, Kiffin was asked for his thoughts on the first half. He shot back, “Just excited that Georgia is boat racing Mississippi State 38-7. Oh, our game? I thought maybe you were talking about the first half of Mississippi State.” His dig pointed straight at the Bulldogs’ lopsided halftime deficit to Georgia.
The remark poured a little extra heat onto the Egg Bowl rivalry. Mississippi State is fighting for bowl eligibility, while Ole Miss continues to chase a College Football Playoff spot. The tension only builds with the two set to meet in the season finale. Kiffin heads into that matchup with a 4-1 record in Egg Bowl games, his lone loss coming three years ago in Oxford.
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Mississippi State, under head coach Jeff Lebby, will need either a road win at Missouri or an upset against Ole Miss to make a bowl appearance. Meanwhile, the buildup to the annual Egg Bowl intensifies with Kiffin’s comments, stirring emotions among both fan bases as Ole Miss controls its path toward the playoff.
