Nick Saban on the potential of Lane Kiffin not coaching Ole Miss in SEC Championship: 'That's crazy'

The SEC Championship means a lot to Nick Saban and it might mean a lot to Lane Kiffin if the latter is given the opportunity to coach in the game. Ole Miss needs an Alabama loss to Auburn Saturday to take on Georgia for the conference crown.

Playing for the SEC title means the winner is likely getting a top four seed, perhaps even as high as No. 2 or 1 depending upon the chaos over the next two weeks. But with Kiffin’s impending decision to stay at Ole Miss or leave for LSU, likely coming today, his status for that potential game is up in the air.

Reports surfaced that if Ole Miss were to make the SEC Championship Game, even with Kiffin deciding to leave for LSU, that the Ole Miss brass would not allow him to coach the remainder of the season. That baffled Saban when he discussed the topic on ESPN’s College GameDay.

“It matters to me, because I always thought winning the SEC was a significant accomplishment,” Saban said. “But when you add this playoff deal to it, and like, I’d like to ask Kirby (Smart) today, are you happy that you’re in the SEC championship? Because he doesn’t need to be in it, right? Alabama needs to win their way through it, probably to be able to get in the playoffs. So that’s a different scenario. But what do you do at Ole Miss when they have never been in the SEC championship game ever? And if Alabama loses, they get in the SEC championship game and they’re not going to allow Lane (Kiffin) to coach? That’s crazy.”

The Rebels beat Mississippi State 38-19 Friday afternoon to finish the regular season 11-1 and all but lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time. They could add to their history if they get granted a spot in the SEC Championship.

But either way, CFP, SEC title game, whatever the case may be, Kiffin’s future is completely up in the air. He said he’ll do a lot of praying over the decision.

“No, I haven’t (made up my mind),” Kiffin told ESPN’s Taylor McGregor on the broadcast Friday. “I’ve got a lot of praying to do to figure that out tomorrow, but right now, I’m just going to go enjoy these players. I told them last night, you’re going to win your 11th game, and all I want to do is experience joy watching you, and that’s what I’m about to do.”