Lane Kiffin reveals why he sounds like 'voice of reason' on NIL

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has become known for his funny social media presence and candid comments on the biggest issues in college football over the years. Now, in the new era of NIL deals, he has been identified as a “voice of reason” by some listening to his speech.

During a media session at the SEC meetings on Tuesday, Lane Kiffin discussed whether becoming a “voice of reason” was his goal in speaking about NIL over recent months.

“No, I don’t think that was on purpose,” said Kiffin, via On3’s Jesse Simonton. “I just think I’ve kind of always tried to answer questions and not do the coach speak. You’re going to get a lot of them up here and they’re just going to give you the same line. But that’s not really on purpose, I’ve just always been that way, I’m going to say how it is. … As opposed to hiding behind all of it and saying whatever that little coaches’ bible that we’re supposed to follow with what you’re supposed to say.

“NIL has nothing to do with my players coming to my campus. So I’m not going to say those things.”

As other coaches bemoan the current state of college football and the direction NIL deals are taking the transfer portal and recruiting trail, Kiffin continues to work toward adapting in whatever environment he sees.

Lane Kiffin on NIL

As the “voice of reason” on NIL deals, Lane Kiffin also took time to discuss how the coaches in the meeting room feel about the future direction of college football.

“We’re not seeing a lot of details of what came out of there. That (NIL), probably of all the things discussed, almost everybody’s on the same page that something needs to be done, something needs to be done with that, working towards a fair playing ground,” Kiffin said. “Even maybe some of the people that you or I may not think would say that in there but top to bottom, we all said the same things.”

Later in the press conference, the SEC reporters asked Kiffin what measures the coaches have brought up to tamp down on the controversy around NIL.

“I would say a lot of them would prefer to go back to how a lot of it was supposed to work,” Kiffin said. “Players were going to come in, get NIL deals based on their performance and based on marketing. Now, you have players going in and getting money … for where they go to school.”