Lane Kiffin Slams College Football’s “Dumb System” Amid Transfer Portal Chaos
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lane Kiffin, the outspoken head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, is no stranger to making headlines. But on Tuesday, he took his frustrations with college football to a whole new level, calling the current system “a dumb system.” And no, this time, he wasn’t ranting about the College Football Playoff selection process. Instead, Kiffin zeroed in on the chaotic college football calendar that forces coaches to juggle the transfer portal, bowl game preparations, and recruiting all at once.
“We just try to make the best of the situations,” Kiffin said during a videoconference call for coaches preparing for the Gator Bowl. “It really is a dumb system.”
His comments come at a time when the college football world is buzzing with activity. The transfer portal is wide open, bowl games are on the horizon, and national signing day has already passed. For Kiffin, the timing of it all is a logistical nightmare. He painted a vivid picture of the chaos, comparing it to the NFL holding free agency during the playoffs.
“Just think if the NFL was getting ready for the AFC, NFC playoffs, postseason, and players are in free agency already. It’s a really poor system, but we just try to manage the best we can through it, and hopefully someday it’ll get fixed.” — Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss head coach
Transfer Portal Drama Hits Duke
Kiffin’s frustrations were echoed by first-year Duke head coach Manny Diaz, who is dealing with his own transfer portal headache. Diaz confirmed that his starting quarterback, Maalik Murphy, has entered the transfer portal. This leaves Duke scrambling to decide between Henry Belin and Grayson Loftis as the starting quarterback for their Jan. 2 bowl game in Jacksonville.
“Think about what we’re talking about or what [Diaz] just had to address: a quarterback going in the portal,” Kiffin said. “The season’s not over yet, and there’s a free agency window open.”
Murphy, a California native, transferred to Duke after spending one year at Texas. He had a stellar season, completing 60% of his passes for 2,933 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while starting all 12 games in 2024. His leadership helped Duke achieve its most regular-season wins since 2014, finishing with a 9-3 record. But now, the Blue Devils will have to face their bowl game without him.
Coaches Forced to Adapt
Despite the challenges, Diaz is taking the high road, emphasizing adaptability. “From our standpoint, we adjust,” Diaz said. “This is the new normal. What we’re not doing right now is we’re not on the road recruiting. We’re not on the road babysitting our commits who, up until last year, were signing on the third Wednesday of December.”
Diaz pointed out that the early signing day has at least removed one stressor from December’s chaotic schedule. “However the landscape changes, we adapt to it. That’s what football coaches are; we’re problem-solvers and we’re adjusters, and we adjust,” he added.
Ole Miss Prepares for Gator Bowl
Meanwhile, Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels, ranked 16th with a 9-3 record, are gearing up for their Gator Bowl matchup. Senior quarterback Jaxson Dart is expected to play, but Kiffin acknowledged that some other starters might opt out. The Rebels are no strangers to the challenges of postseason preparation, but the added layer of transfer portal drama has made this year particularly tricky.
What’s Next for College Football?
Kiffin’s criticism of the system isn’t new, but it’s gaining traction as more coaches voice similar concerns. The overlap of the transfer portal, bowl games, and recruiting has created a perfect storm of stress for programs across the country. And while coaches like Diaz are doing their best to adapt, it’s clear that many believe the system needs an overhaul.
For now, though, it’s business as usual. The Blue Devils will head to their bowl game without their star quarterback, and the Rebels will try to navigate the uncertainty of player opt-outs. As Kiffin put it, “We just try to manage the best we can through it, and hopefully someday it’ll get fixed.”
Key Takeaways
- Lane Kiffin called the current college football calendar “a dumb system,” citing the overlap of the transfer portal, bowl games, and recruiting.
- Duke’s starting quarterback, Maalik Murphy, has entered the transfer portal, leaving the team scrambling ahead of their Jan. 2 bowl game.
- Despite the chaos, coaches like Manny Diaz are focusing on adaptability and problem-solving.
- Ole Miss, ranked 16th, is preparing for the Gator Bowl, with senior quarterback Jaxson Dart expected to play.
As the college football world continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the current system is under fire, and change may be on the horizon.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
