Lane Kiffin praises ‘really good decision’ SEC made on spring transfer window

As coaches get ready for the spring transfer window to open, many are grappling with the reality of their own roster. What are the needs? Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is equally concerned with how other programs answer that question.

If they find a need, they could raid his program potentially. Of course, there’s one benefit to being in the SEC.

The conference does not allow players who transfer within the league outside of the winter transfer portal window to play right away the following season. They have to sit out a year, thoroughly discouraging SEC-to-SEC transfers this go-round.

“I think we are fortunate that a while back when that SEC rule was made, that was a really good decision, because I think all coaches are concerned this time of year with their own players, and that would obviously really set up a bad system of eating our own,” Lane Kiffin said. “And not just eating our own, driving prices up.”

NIL is also a major factor now for coaches like Kiffin. Not only do you have to keep your players happy with their playing time, you have to keep them happy with their compensation package too.

And when other schools come in offering huge sums of money, that dynamic can get a little funky. Roster raiding is a real thing.

Different programs have taken different steps to try to combat that. A handful of programs around the country have decided not to host a traditional spring game, worried that the additional exposure could attract the poachers.

Lane Kiffin and the Rebels aren’t quite among that group, but even the Ole Miss coach admits tampering is a real concern. Can he evaluate his own guys properly this spring while mitigating those concerns?

“We’re seeing a lot. There’s some injuries that I wish we’d have some better evals on, including a couple new guys that haven’t done anything,” Lane Kiffin said of spring ball to date. “But again, there’s so much unknown on that part of the portal coming and the judgment, but just the portal alone. And you’re always concerned of your own guys also.”

Time will tell just how well the SEC rule prevents programs from losing key talent before the fall. Already some players have announced their plans to enter the portal when it opens.

But, at least within the SEC, there should be a little more stability than other leagues. The conference’s rule restricting players to the winter transfer window for intra-league transfers is a beneficial one, Lane Kiffin said.