Lane Kiffin expresses frustration with conference realignment ahead of facing Washington State

Ole Miss is off to a 5-0 start this season for the second time in the Lane Kiffin era. Thanks to three SEC wins (Kentucky, Arkansas and No. 4 LSU) and victories over Georgia State and Tulane, the Rebels are up to No. 4 in the AP Poll Rankings.

Kiffin’s team will get a break from SEC play this Saturday when it hosts Washington State in Oxford. The Cougars are just one of two teams remaining in the slaughtered Pac-12 (Oregon State) and are 3-2 this season.

The polarizing Ole Miss coach formerly coached in the Pac-12 with USC. Kiffin was an assistant with USC from 2001-2006 before returning to Southern Cal as its head coach from 2010-2013. Ahead of Saturday’s game, he touched on the death of the Pac-12 and conference realignment as a whole.

“Yeah I think the whole thing is sad,” Kiffin said. “The whole conference alignments and especially that one. There’s so much history with that with USC and UCLA and the conference and Pac-8, Pac-10 and Pac-12. Now they’re flying all over the country and teams are flying out there and we have these weird kick-off times. I understand it.”

Lane Kiffin claims conference realignment is ‘sad’

“All of these decisions made by conference and schools are all about money,” Kiffin continued. “I get it. It is what it is. I just don’t think it’s good outside of the money. I think it’s bad for the kids and the travel and their school and rivalries and fans, especially that conference where everybody’s way over there. The whole thing is just sad.”

The Pac-12 was dissolved following the 2023 season, with teams getting distributed to the ACC (California and Stanford), Big Ten (Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington) and the Big 12 (Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah). Oregon State and Washington State were however unable to find homes and have made up the conference for two seasons now.

Things will change in 2026 however, as six new teams will be added to the conference. This includes Boise State (Mountain West), Colorado State (Mountain West), Fresno State (Mountain West), San Diego State (Mountain West), Texas State (Sun Belt) and Utah State (Mountain West).

Kickoff between No. 4 Ole Miss and Washington State this Saturday is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on SEC Network.