Lane Kiffin blasts latest College Football Playoff rankings
Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels were left outside of the top 12 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. After falling to Florida in Week 13, the Rebels came in at No. 14 in Tuesday’s rankings.
On Wednesday, Kiffin hosted his weekly radio show, “Reb Talk,” and aired out his frustrations with the Playoff committee for how SEC teams have been valued relative to other leagues. The Rebels are still alive in the Playoff race, but several things would need to happen for the team to make it in.
“We need to play really well (against MSU), first off. That’s what’s in our control, and then other things (need) to happen,” Kiffin explained. “It’s ridiculous the difference between playing in the SEC and the ACC and Big 12 and, to see these rankings, and I’m not even doing the Ole Miss homer thing.
“You’re talking about like Clemson’s schedule and who they’ve played over Alabama. It’s not even… It’s just, it’s stupid. Take some of those teams that are up there that haven’t played anybody and put them down in the SEC, they’re .500 teams.”
Kiffin is not the first to speak about the imbalance between the conferences. Nick Saban stumped for Ole Miss earlier on Wednesday.
For reference, the Rebels are No. 6 in ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) even with 3 losses. Before losing to Florida, the Rebels were No. 9 in the Playoff rankings.
The obvious team Kiffin could be referring to is Indiana. The Hoosiers are 10-1 but have only played 1 ranked team. That 1 ranked team, Ohio State, gave the Hoosiers their only loss of the season and it was never close.
SMU is another team in the rankings that hasn’t exactly faced a gauntlet this season. The Mustangs have 1 loss as well, but their only ranked wins are over Louisville and Pittsburgh.
Based on the current rankings, Boise State, SMU, Indiana, and Arizona State would get bids to the 12-team CFP and only 3 SEC teams would join them in the field.
He’s not wrong but it is funny.
@VOLTRAINCONDUCTOR. What’s funny is when UT goes to Nashville Saturday and VANDY takes down big orange and your playoff birth goes up in smoke and derails any of UT’s playoff talk and Voltrainconductor just remember you heard it here first. So Iget your player list ready so you can make some phone calls to try and salvage them flipping. In other word get ready to call the recruits.
One would think Choking Georgia fans cognizant of their habit of choking would be 100% focused on GT and the SECCG or things could get funny for Georgia too.
I guess I missed the “funny” part. Kiffen was absolutely correct with one exception – Ole Miss doesn’t belong in the playoffs any more than any other team that has been beaten three times.
I think the point is people just look at eins and losses. The teams played are just not the same.
Auburn had 1 win in the SEC when A&M goes there, at night, in front of a sellout. Do they think that is the same as going to Maryland and playing in front of a half empty stadium of 25 thousand or so?
Strength of schedule should matter more than wins and losses because the schedules are so uneven across the country. That’s all.
There should be no “at large” teams. The SEC should get six slots and those should be decided by objective criteria. The B1G should get three slots, once again decided by objective criteria. The ACC and Big 12 should get one each. The one remaining slot goes to the rest. All slots should Be decided based on objective Criteria rather than committee opinions. If the SEC og B1G have a losing record in the playoffs, then they lose a slot the following year.
What really hurt the Lane Train was the loss to Kentucky. However, we have two more rankings to go, so its possible for Ole Miss tosqeak in, but they aren’t the most deserving 3 loss team.
Meanwhile, GO INSECTS,Beat the Dawgs!
Your hatred of Georgia is admirable. You have Georgia in every post – well done.
Yes well done indeed. Vol fans should hate ga as much as ga fans hate UT.
Go Insects!!!
Go Vandy! Anchors down!
I don’t think most Georgia fans hate Tennessee, they only see them as a big game currently because their team is improving. Prior to 1992, they rarely played, and they tend to wander in the woods of relevancy as much as UGA has.
Kiffin is correct. Penn State, Indiana, ND, Miami, and others would all have 2+ losses if they played in the SEC
Those people who rank the unrankable can be criticized by almost everyone. And should be. Honestly there should be half a dozen polls and each one should be required to explain how they justify not keeping several teams in a tie for a rank if their records are the same. Because to do this they have to make unsupported assumptions.