Lane Kiffin Rips CFP Rankings After Ole Miss’ No. 13 Placement: ‘Do You Actually Watch?’
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is no stranger to speaking his mind, and the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings gave him yet another reason to air his frustrations. After the Rebels were slotted at No. 13 despite a strong 10-2 season in the SEC, Kiffin didn’t hold back, openly questioning the selection committee’s criteria and their overall approach to evaluating teams.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference, Kiffin voiced his frustration in classic fashion, saying, “Do you actually watch the games, or is this just about the logo on the helmet? Because it feels like some teams get the benefit of the doubt, and others don’t, no matter what they do on the field.”
The Rebels’ season has been one of the most impressive in recent program history. Ole Miss finished with a 10-2 record, with their only losses coming to top-ranked Georgia and Alabama—two perennial powerhouses that also sit at the top of the CFP rankings. The Rebels notched significant wins over LSU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas, showing resilience and offensive firepower under Kiffin’s leadership.
Despite this, Ole Miss was ranked outside the top 10, trailing teams with arguably weaker résumés or less challenging schedules. For Kiffin, the perceived lack of respect from the committee is not just an insult to the program but also to the competitive nature of the SEC itself.
“The SEC is the toughest conference in football, and everyone knows it. So when you go 10-2 here, it’s not the same as going 10-2 in a league where you play one or two tough games all year,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin specifically pointed to teams ranked above Ole Miss with similar or fewer quality wins. While he didn’t name names, it’s clear he was taking aim at certain programs from the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC that have benefited from less rigorous schedules.
“Some of these teams don’t even have to play a conference championship game against real competition,” Kiffin added. “Meanwhile, we’re out here battling week after week against the best players and coaches in the country.”
This isn’t the first time Kiffin has criticized the CFP selection process. He has long been an advocate for expanding the playoff field, arguing that a larger bracket would give deserving teams like Ole Miss a fairer chance to compete for a national title.
While the Rebels won’t be part of the four-team playoff, they are still in line for a prestigious New Year’s Six bowl game. For Kiffin and his players, the snub might serve as motivation to prove the committee wrong on the national stage.
“You can only control what’s in front of you, and right now, that’s preparing for a big bowl game,” Kiffin said. “But it doesn’t mean we’re not going to speak up when we see something that’s clearly unfair.”
Kiffin’s comments highlight a growing frustration among coaches and fans about the CFP selection process. Critics argue that subjective factors like brand recognition, preseason rankings, and conference favoritism often outweigh on-field performance.
The impending expansion of the CFP to 12 teams in 2024 may alleviate some of these concerns, but for now, programs like Ole Miss remain at the mercy of a process that often seems opaque.
Love him or hate him, Lane Kiffin’s candor continues to be a defining trait of his coaching tenure. By speaking out against perceived injustices, he has positioned himself not just as a coach fighting for his team but also as a voice for programs that feel overlooked.
Whether the CFP committee listens to his critique is another matter entirely. But one thing is clear: Kiffin isn’t afraid to call it as he sees it—and that fearless approach has endeared him to Rebel Nation.
As Ole Miss prepares for its bowl game, the program will undoubtedly channel Kiffin’s fiery passion to show the world that their No. 13 ranking doesn’t reflect the true strength of the Rebels.