Nick Saban addresses reported involvement in Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
Lane Kiffin departing Ole Miss for LSU was 1 of the most intriguing topics in college football last season. Now it’s time for Kiffin to return to Oxford for what promises to be an intense top-10 matchup on Saturday night.
As kickoff approaches, Nick Saban set the record straight on the rumor that he encouraged Kiffin to take the LSU job. Saban won his first national title at LSU and Kiffin was his offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-2016.
Saban shot down the speculation and instead explained the way he framed the situation to Kiffin.
“Where do you think you can win? Where do you think you fit. And I also say, ‘Why can’t you win at where you are now?” Saban said. “You have a great quarterback. You have a great running back. You’re in the playoffs. You have a chance to win the national championship. So why do you have to go someplace else?’ So, but everybody makes their own decision. I don’t tell anybody where to go.”
Kiffin left Ole Miss last season after guiding the Rebels to an 11-1 record. Ole Miss moved forward with now head coach Pete Golding for the CFP run that ended in the semifinals.
LSU is off to a 2-0 start under Lane Kiffin after a 51-10 rout vs. Clemson and last weekend’s 45-14 blowout vs. Louisiana Tech. LSU at Ole Miss is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff (ABC).
