Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin Criticizes College Football Playoff Rankings

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has expressed significant frustration over the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket rankings. During a recent appearance on his radio show, Kiffin blasted the rankings as “ridiculous” and “stupid,” highlighting the disparity in scheduling strength between different conferences.

Kiffin’s comments came after a tough weekend for the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with Ole Miss losing to 6-5 Florida and Alabama suffering a 24-3 loss to a 6-5 Oklahoma squad. Additionally, Texas A&M lost in four overtimes to a 5-6 Auburn team that is not yet bowl eligible.

The coach emphasized the difference in conference strength, particularly comparing the SEC to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Big 12. He argued that teams from other conferences, such as Clemson, would fare poorly if they were placed in the SEC. Kiffin pointed out that Ole Miss and Alabama are ranked behind teams like Miami, SMU, and Clemson, despite the SEC’s traditionally tougher schedule.

Ole Miss currently ranks No. 14 in the CFP projections, just outside the 12-team playoff bracket. Kiffin’s frustration is also rooted in the Rebels’ strength of schedule, which is ranked No. 27. He suggested that if Ole Miss had won against teams like Florida, Kentucky, or LSU, their position would be more secure.