Booger McFarland on Lane Kiffin's future: 'He's earned that right to make that decision'

With Friday’s 38-19 win over rival Mississippi State in Starkville, No. 7 Ole Miss notched its first-ever 11-win regular season and now awaits where it’ll fit into the upcoming College Football Playoff. But before that, sixth-year Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has a career-defining decision to make.

Last week, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter revealed Kiffin would have an announcement about his future plans “the Saturday following” Friday’s Egg Bowl. The 50-year-old Kiffin is weighing whether to remain in Oxford and continue lead the Rebels (11-1, 7-1 SEC) into the Playoffs, or leave to take over the once-proud LSU program.

And while the timing — one day after an emotionally-charged regular-season finale — is certainly less than ideal, the decision ahead of Kiffin is one he’s earned by being one of college football’s most consistent head coaches over the past few years with three consecutive double-digit win seasons.

During halftime of the Georgia-Georgia Tech game on ABC, ESPN analyst Booger McFarland — an LSU alum — commended Kiffin’s work on and off the field, especially for having his Rebels prepared to play a must-win rivalry game this week amid rampant speculation about his future.

“Hats off to Lane Kiffin for blocking the noise out, and for this team getting their 11th win. And, everybody’s going to say a bunch of noise about what Lane should or should not do, here’s what I know, Kev: In life, success creates opportunities,” McFarland said Friday evening.

“He’s got (three consecutive) 10-win seasons at Ole Miss. He’s got an 11-win season (this year). His ability to be successful there has created opportunities for him,” McFarland continued. “Whatever choice he decides, he’s earned that right to make that decision. And, so good for Lane. More importantly, good for Ole Miss, because they clinched the spot, in my opinion, in the Playoff.”

Whatever Kiffin decides on Saturday, the Rebels must wait to learn their Playoff fate on Selection Sunday following Championship Weekend.

Booger McFarland: Ole Miss should allow Lane Kiffin to coach College Football Playoff if he leaves

If Kiffin announces he’s accepting LSU‘s lucrative offer to be the Tigers’ next head coach, McFarland believes Ole Miss should still allow him to coach the Rebels in the CFP.

“I feel like he’s earned the right,” McFarland said during halftime of the Georgia-Georgia Tech game. “Anytime you coach a team, that team starts in the spring. You go through spring practice, throughout the summer, and now you finish a season. And, if you earn an opportunity to take that team into the playoff, he should coach that team in the playoff.

“You always hear people say, ‘Finish what you start.’ And if he gets an opportunity to put this team in the playoff, he should be able to finish.”

— On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.