Lane Kiffin reveals biggest stress: Parking boats

Lane Kiffin doesn’t really get stressed out while coaching and why should he? He has a bigger fear in front of people.

You know what that is? Parking a boat. Kiffin loves boats and big intricate ones as well. But if he can’t easily park the boat at a dock, well, he’ll be circling for a while.

Kiffin described the type of boats he’s been on and has. They’re expensive by the way! But just like parallel parking a car, if Kiffin can’t easily dock his boat, find someone else to do it!

“Yeah, these boats have a Captain, first mate, second mate,” Kiffin said on Sirius XM. “I mean, not to sound crazy, but it was just a $4 million boat. And I’m like, dude, like, you’re parking that, like, in reverse, like, moving around, ike, aren’t you nervous? When I had a boat and I’d go by the restaurant and there’s a spot, but if it’s not a double spot, I’m not going to the restaurant or bar. I’m just gonna keep going. There is no way.”

Kiffin shouldn’t have to stress too much while coaching, though. He’s 44-18 at Ole Miss since 2020 and has had back-to-back double-digit winning seasons. Not only that, he won the Peach Bowl in 2023 and the Gator Bowl last season.

There have been three instances where Kiffin led Ole Miss to a top 15 end-of-season ranking, including No. 9 at the end of 2023. But, the College Football Playoff still eludes the head coach, much like tight boat parking spaces.

Perhaps the best way he and Ole Miss get in is via a 16-team College Football Playoff. Kiffin said it was the best system that could be conjured these days.

A 16-team field would also eliminate the need for teams to receive first round byes. The four highest-ranked conference champions received byes this past year, but going forward, beginning in 2025, it will be the top four teams in the rankings regardless of whether they won their league title.

There have already been a couple of different proposals for what a 16-team playoff would look like. One is the “4-4-2-2-1″ model that would grant the Big Ten and SEC four bids apiece, the Big 12 and ACC two bids apiece and one bid to either Notre Dame or the highest-ranked Group of 6 team. The remaining three bids would go to at-large teams.