Lane Kiffin blasts new clock rules shortening games

It’s been one week and some change in college football, giving teams the chance to adjust to the new clock rules the NCAA implemented ahead of the 2023 season.

Not everyone likes the change, which has effectively served to remove a few plays per game on average.

“I just don’t understand it,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “People pay to see, they sit down with their family to watch a game, they pay for tickets to go to a game and we’re going to shorten it? I mean it’s not like it was broke. And there’s a lot of problems that need to be fixed in the world around college football, and running the clock so the game’s quicker? I don’t get it.”

Kiffin isn’t a big fan of the new clock rules, which shrink the game down a bit by keeping the clock running even after first down conversions as long as it’s not in the final two minutes before a half. Previously first downs would trigger a clock stoppage while the ball was reset.

The change has made games shorter, though more data is needed to see whether that shortening is primarily in the number of plays versus the actual time games take to reach completion.

Either way, Kiffin doesn’t really get the logic behind the move to the new clock rules.

“You go to a country concert and want to have them sing two less songs when you pay for a concert?” Kiffin said. “No. So why do you want a game to be shorter? That just does not really show much awareness about what should be getting worked on and fixed around college football, in my opinion.”

Lane Kiffin on facing Tulane’s Michael Pratt

Ahead of a game against Tulane this weekend, Kiffin knows it’s going to be tough for his defense to go up against Michael Pratt.

“The quarterback, basically, played as well as you can on air last week with one incompletion,” Kiffin said. “He’s very savvy, a veteran, sharp, accurate. A really good player.”

Michael Pratt is now in his fourth season as Tulane’s starting quarterback. He has a career completion percentage of 59.7 percent and has thrown for 7,499 yards and 72 touchdowns. Pratt also has 900 career rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. Against South Alabama, Pratt went 14-of-15 for 294 yards and four touchdowns.

The game between Ole Miss and Tulane will take place at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, new clock rules and all.