The next time Ole Miss football takes the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, it will have a new quarterback.

Jaxson Dart was emotional after the Rebels’ 26-14 victory over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Friday, fighting back tears as the senior finished his postgame interview with the ESPN broadcast.

He also shared a sombre moment with coach Lane Kiffin, who has used Dart at quarterback in each of his three seasons since taking over at Ole Miss.

“I said I loved him,” Dart said of his moment with Kiffin. “It’s not always easy to move across the country and leave your family. I love this place, it welcomed me. Accepted my family. I just love him so much. This place is very close to my heart.”

“And Coach Kiffin was my biggest influence and someone who helped me through this process. I just told him I loved him.”

Dart, who is likely to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, had his sights set on the College Football Playoff in his final season at Ole Miss, but a loss to Florida in Week 13 likely ended those hopes.

Required reading: Jaxson Dart breaks Eli Manning’s Ole Miss football career passing stat record in the Egg Bowl

The Kaysville, Utah, native spent his freshman season at USC before transferring to Ole Miss. Dart completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown, along with 13 carries for 77 yards against Mississippi State, passing Eli Manning as the program’s all-around performer. Time-leading passer.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jaxson Dart and Lane Kiffin hug after Ole Miss’ final home game