Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo hammers Lane Kiffin for considering Ole Miss departure before CFP

Most of the college football world is waiting to see what Lane Kiffin will do. One day after the Egg Bowl, he will seemingly decide between Florida, LSU, and Ole Miss. While predictions have come in for where Kiffin will land, nobody truly knows what the final decision will be.

Not everybody is thrilled with how the process has played out. You can add Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo to the list, going on a rant during Wednesday’s episode of First Take. Russo hammered Kiffin for the possibility of leaving Ole Miss before coaching the team through the College Football Playoff.

“Lane Kiffin is a clown. Ole Miss took him out of [FAU], where he, obviously, had problems at Tennessee. Al Davis couldn’t stand him. He got fired at USC. He’s done a good job, he’s a good coach. But you know what? You owe it to this team that’s got a chance to win a national championship to play out the year. You want to leave January 15? I don’t care about that recruiting day. You want to leave January 15 to go to Baton Rouge or got to Gainesville? Go ahead.

“But you owe it to your team and that school and those players to follow up the year… He could win championships at Ole Miss. He’s shown he can win championships at Ole Miss… It’s not like he can’t get talent there. For him to do this, go on McAfee and, sort of circumvent the questions. I’ve had enough of him. Oh, I’m so tired of Lane Kiffin. What a joke. You don’t do this to your team.”

If Ole Miss does beat Mississippi State, their next game will likely be in the College Football Playoff. The door is still technically open for the SEC Championship, needing help in the final weekend of the season. But an 11-1 should be enough to get Kiffin’s bunch into the 12-team field.

The question becomes — will it still be considered Kiffin’s bunch? There is a possibility the move to Florida or LSU has already been made, leaving an interim head coach for Ole Miss. An unprecedented move in modern college football, Russo surely would not be the only person upset.

An interesting few days are ahead. Starkville could paint quite the scene, no matter the result, as Kiffin potentially coaches in his last game at Ole Miss. From there, everyone will be on pins and needles, awaiting a final choice.