Top college football coach makes brutal jibe about rival's weight in bizarre press conference moment

The war of words between Lane Kiffin and Kirby Smart has already begun ahead of Ole Miss's clash against Georgia this weekend. 

The No 5 ranked Rebels will travel to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs in a highly-anticipated college football showdown on Saturday. 

And Ole Miss head coach Kiffin didn't hesitate to take the first shot at his rival during Monday's press conference. 

The 50-year-old seized the chance to take a cheeky dig at Smart when a reporter raised the topic of both coaches' animated displays on the sidelines. 

Kiffin was questioned on who he thought burn the most calories from their game day antics between himself and Smart. 

'I don't know,' Kiffin said. 'That's a good question. I walked by the TV and saw his press conference today. Doesn't look like he's burned too many calories. But he does have a lot of energy games and he coaches really passionately.' 

Kiffin joked that he had previously given Smart 'heat' about his weight before and that the Georgia coach responded by claiming that he 'is too stressed to work out.'

However, the Rebels coach did have some kind words for his opposing coach, hailing him as one of the best in the sport. 

'He finds a way to win a lot of games, a lot of different styles,' Kiffin said of Smart. 'He's overcome a lot of adversity in games to keep his team together. That's why he's the best coach in college football now.'

The pair have a good relationship having previously worked together under Nick Saban at Alabama. Kiffin was the offensive coordinator for The Crimson Tide, while Smart held the defensive coordinator position. 

Ole Miss head into this weekend's clash off the back of a 24-21 win over Washington State, in which Trinidad Chambliss threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Meanwhile, Smart's Bulldogs scored 20 unanswered points in a 20-10 comeback victory over Auburn last Saturday. 

However, the game wasn't without its controversy as Georgia could have very well found itself trailing 16-0 at one point. 

Auburn running back Jackson Arnold appeared to extend the Tigers' lead with a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter from a Tush Push attempt. However, Georgia linebacker CJ Allen knocked the ball loose at the goal line with 1:32 remaining in the half. 

Georgia defensive back Kyron Jones scooped up the fumble and ran it the other way for a touchdown that was ultimately negated by officials, who said the play had been called dead.

Amid the confusion, ESPN's Sean McDonough couldn't help but question the officials.

'If it was a fumble, why didn't the play continue?' McDonough asked. '[Arnold] has the ball, he is across the line. That's a touchdown.'

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze was equally confused.

'All you have to do is have the nose of the ball break the plane,' Freeze said. 'It didn't go our way.'