Booger McFarland makes case for Ole Miss to make the College Football Playoff if Lane Kiffin leaves

In 2023, the College Football Playoff selection committee caused nationwide controversy when it excluded Florida State, which was 13-0 at the time, from the CFP. The committee excluded the Seminoles because FSU quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury in Week 13 of the regular season.

The CFP selection committee may be faced with a new dilemma this season. On Saturday, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is expected to announce whether he’s returning to the school next season or accepting an outside offer.

It’s unclear if Ole Miss will allow Kiffin to coach in the CFP if he announces he’ll be coaching elsewhere next season. Moreover, it’s a mystery how the CFP selection committee will treat Ole Miss if Kiffin won’t be coaching the program in the postseason.

Some Rebels fans are concerned history could repeat itself, and Ole Miss could be excluded from the CFP despite its impressive resume. On Friday, ESPN’s Booger McFarland revealed how he believes the selection committee should treat the Rebels if Ole Miss won’t allow Kiffin to coach the team in the postseason.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” McFarland said. “Here’s the difference. The committee actually saw Florida State without Jordan Travis. This committee would have never seen Ole Miss without Lane Kiffin, hypothetical. So, I don’t think the committee will punish Ole Miss whatsoever.

“Those are two different scenarios. We assume what Ole Miss would look like. The committee actually saw what Florida State did look like, even though, I think the committee baffled the decision and made the wrong decision. That’s a whole other story. Ole Miss should [be] and Ole Miss is in the playoff based on what they’ve done so far this season.”

As McFarland mentioned, Florida State played two games without Jordan Travis before the CFP selection committee revealed its decision. While the Seminoles won both games, they certainly didn’t look as excellent as they had with Travis leading the offense.

Unless Ole Miss earns a trip to the SEC Championship game, the selection committee won’t have a chance to see the Rebels without Kiffin. Texas A&M and Alabama both must lose this weekend for Ole Miss to appear in the conference championship.

Even then, perhaps Ole Miss would allow Kiffin to coach in the SEC title game, but not the CFP. Rebels fans won’t have to wait much longer to learn what the program’s future looks like. Kiffin said he plans on announcing his decision tomorrow.