Whoever was calling the defensive plays, they worked.

It was a jovial atmosphere down on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday as Alabama football closed out its 24-10 victory over Ole Miss. There on the away sideline, wearing a white Rebels visor with similarly colored shirt and gray pants, was the one-time offensive coordinator of the Crimson Tide, Lane Kiffin.

As he ran through his timeouts trying in vain to muster some sort of miracle, current Rebel head coach Kiffin sat back from his team’s huddle on the field, where former Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding was speaking with players. Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September” rang from the loudspeakers as Kiffin crossed his arms before the inevitable.

“Disappointing,” Kiffin said after the game. “Especially when you don’t get these guys again for at least a year.”

It’s true, the Crimson Tide and Rebels won’t cross paths in the regular season next year, due to the SEC’s new schedule setup. But before the game, Kiffin made a statement saying it could be the final time, and few interpreted it as anything other than an implication that Alabama head coach Nick Saban was nearing retirement.

It wasn’t Kiffin’s only mind game of the week. On Sunday, he had a press conference outside of his regular schedule, where he announced his theory that Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele wasn’t calling the defense.

Kiffin thought it was cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson. The claim forced Saban to respond and reiterate that Steele was in charge.

On Saturday, Kiffin was asked who he thought was running the operation.

“I don’t know,” Kiffin said. “But they did a good job… Maybe coach (Saban) took over.”

Alabama’s defense was the cornerstone of Saban’s dismantling of his ex-assistant. The Rebels hadn’t scored less than 37 points this season, and that low number had come against a top-25 Tulane team.

On Saturday, whatever Kiffin tried, it seemed Alabama had an answer for. Quarterback Jaxson Dart made some plays, including a 10-yard run for Ole Miss’ lone touchdown, but by and large, the defense held firm.

According to cornerback Terrion Arnold, who finished with eight tackles to lead the team, plus an interception and two pass breakups, the Crimson Tide’s players laughed when they saw Kiffin’s comments.

“Coach Steele, he calls the plays,” Arnold said. “T-Rob is reiterating the play, so as far as, (Kiffin) might just be getting that confused.”

With the state of Alabama’s offense a constant question so far this season, it’s going to be up to the defense. The group got beaten badly against Texas in Week 2, when Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers torched it deep time and time again.

Other than a few mishaps which it quickly recovered from, the secondary was solid against Ole Miss. Arnold played extremely well, as did fellow cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and a safeties group including Malachi Moore, Caleb Downs and Jaylen Key.

The pass rush also was effective, sacking Dart four times, including two from outside linebacker Dallas Turner.

Afterward, Turner was asked how good the unit can be.

“I feel like the sky’s the limit,” he said. “I said that before the season, there’s no limit to the defense.”

Jalen Milroe kneeled out the clock after Kiffin exhausted his timeouts. He didn’t linger on the field, heading out to midfield to greet his old boss.

“Give ‘em hell Alabama,” the crowd chanted as Kiffin broke away from the scrum and beelined toward the tunnel in Bryant-Denny Stadium’s south end zone. He didn’t pause to chat with or acknowledge the fans calling to him from above his exit.

After a week of talk, they were only too happy to wave goodbye.

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