Ole Miss (3-0) plays its final non-conference game of the season Saturday, as Tulsa makes the trip to Oxford.

Lane Kiffin is in his 3rd season with the Rebels and regarded as one of the top offensive minds in college football.

But to start 2022, it has been the Mississippi defense that has been making headlines.

The Rebels have allowed just 13 points through 3 games and are surrendering just 264 total yards per game.

On Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference, Kiffin was asked about his defense.

“We’ve got good players,” he said. “That helps. … We have the best personnel we’ve had and dramatically different from the first year we were here. Credit to our guys who have recruited those guys and to those guys for playing well.”

Kiffin also said the hiring of Chris Partridge has been a contributing factor to the improvement on defense.

“We hired him as a co-defensive coordinator,” Kiffin said. “Knew he was a great recruiter and a great defensive coach. … He’s made himself able to take over and is doing a great job.”

Also Wednesday, Kiffin was asked about how it came about that he ended up being an offensive coach.

His father, Monte Kiffin, was of course a great defensive coach at the college and NFL level.

“I think that naturally happens sometimes by what you play when you’re younger,” said Kiffin, who was a quarterback. “… That kind of led me in that direction. … Being around (my dad) and being around Pete Carroll and Nick Saban, it really helped me learn what gave them problems.”

The No. 16 Rebels and Golden Hurricane meet at 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday in a game that will be televised by the SEC Network. Ole Miss is a 3-touchdown favorite.