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Nick Saban says Lane Kiffin noise 'is a college football conundrum'
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- Nick Saban says Lane Kiffin noise 'is a college football conundrum'
There are seven days until Mississippi football coach Lane Kiffin is expected to give his decision on whether he's staying with the Rebels or taking one of the available Power Four head coach openings, presumably in the SEC.
Until then, the conversation of "stay or go" and the pros and cons of each side will take place throughout the country. That continued on "College GameDay" from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon ahead of No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 16 USC during the Mississippi bye week.
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Former Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke on the chaotic landscape of college football by saying that college football should model the NFL's "business aspect" of coaching hires. He added the academic calendar shouldn't be matched with the football calendar because it is "unfair to the players."
"This is not a Lane Kiffin conundrum. This is a college football conundrum that we need some leadership to step up and change the rules on how this gets done," Saban said.
REQUIRED READING: LSU finalizing $90 million offer to Lane Kiffin, per report
Reports emerged late Nov. 21 that LSU football is finalizing a $90 million offer to lure Kiffin away from Mississippi to be the Tigers' coach, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports . In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mississippi athletic director Keith Carter mentioned an announcement of Kiffin's future is expected on the Saturday after "The Egg Bowl," which is set for noon ET on Friday, Nov. 28.
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During an appearance on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show" earlier this week, Kiffin denied The Athletic's report that Mississippi gave Kiffin a deadline to decide the future of his coaching career by "The Egg Bowl."
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on "College GameDay" that LSU is the "main competition" with Mississippi, though Florida remains "in the mix."
The Rebels are 10-1 on the season and look well-positioned to make their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history . It's the third consecutive year Kiffin has led the Rebels to at least 10 wins in a season, and the fourth in his six-year tenure.
But with Kiffin's name in the mix of coaching carousel rumors, Kirk Herbstreit said Mississippi fans haven't been able to enjoy the season the Rebels are currently having because they're worried Kiffin may be gone next season.
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"Think about this. They are 11-1 potentially (with a win against Mississippi State in "The Egg Bowl" on Nov. 28)," Herbstreit said. "They got a tough game there. Maybe the best year in school history and you've got to deal with this on the side. Ole Miss fans, they can't even celebrate the year that they're having (because) they're wondering if they're gonna lose their coach."
Another point made by the "GameDay" crew regarding Kiffin has been his ability to construct a roster through the transfer portal. Dellenger mentioned in his report that LSU is "promising significant NIL and revenue share roster investments exceeding $25 million" in its offer to Kiffin.
Kiffin and his staff have built a top-four-ranked transfer portal class in each of the last three seasons, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, including a No. 1 ranking in 2024. The Rebels had the No. 4-ranked transfer class last season.
"This team that he has built through the transfer portal, which almost makes it worse for Ole Miss fans because if he was to leave, basically, everyone one of the good players, they're thinking in their mind, they're (players) hopping in the transfer portal with him," Pat McAfee said. "So not only are they gonna lose the head coach of the team, they're also gonna lose all their good players in this entirety.
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"... He's the king of the transfer portal. That's in the middle of the playoffs."
In six seasons at in Oxford, Kiffin has led the Rebels to a 54-19 overall record. If they make the playoffs this year, it would be the first time for the school.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit talk Lane Kiffin rumors with Ole Miss, LSU
