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Lane Kiffin Doesn't Hold Back Thoughts on 'Stupid' College Football Playoff Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Nov 28, 2024 9:22 AM ET

Late Tuesday night the latest College Football Playoff rankings debuted as teams across the country prepared for their final regular season game.

Of course, the rankings weren't released without some controversy - particularly regarding where the three-loss SEC teams are ranked. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin took exception to where both the Rebels and Alabama Crimson Tide are ranked.

The three-loss SEC schools sit behind two-loss Clemson, which Kiffin pointed out hasn't played a very difficult schedule. He went on to call out both the ACC and Big 12 for their strength of schedule and suggested teams ranked ahead of them would be ".500 teams" if they played in the SEC.

“We need to play really well, first off. That’s what’s in our control,” Kiffin said on his radio show Wednesday night, via On3Sports. “And other things to happen. I’m not gonna get into the whole thing. And I’m not saying because of us. It’s ridiculous, the difference of playing in the SEC and the ACC and Big 12. To see these rankings – I’m not even doing the Ole Miss homer thing.

“To think that you’re looking at schools and you’re talking about, like, Clemson’s schedule and who they played over Alabama. It’s stupid. … I’m not gonna name them. 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 isn't wrong that the SEC plays a more difficult schedule than most other conferences across the country. However, it's impossible to tell how other teams would do in a completely different conference without playing the games.

Both Alabama and Ole Miss will need some chaos on the final weekend of regular season if they want to play for a national title.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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