Lane Kiffin explains why the demise of the Alabama dynasty is 'ridiculous'

Nine games into the regular season and Alabama has two regular season losses. Nick Saban has not fallen short twice this early in a season since 2007, his first season in charge of the Crimson Tide. While many are asking if this is the end of college football’s latest dynasty, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has been the biggest advocate against the thought.

Kiffin once again spoke his mind on where Alabama is as a program, saying it’s “ridiculous” for people in the media to suggest the dynasty is dead. Going on a bit of a rant during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference, Kiffin said losing on heartbreaking plays is not when people should get worried.

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It’s when the losses start coming by multiple touchdowns according to Kiffin. Then questions can start to come about Saban and the future of Alabama.

Lane Kiffin on the Alabama dynasty, losses vs. Tennessee and LSU

“I understand it’s you guy’s job, it’s the media’s job, it’s Paul’s (Finebaum) especially to create attention and create a storyline all the time,” Kiffin began. “Once he said what it did, it got a lot of attention. But it’s ridiculous. When you really dive into coaching and not the result of a game, you go ‘okay Tennessee, loudest place, the whole thing.’ And then if they just make a kick — Alabama can kick, Tennessee can’t win the game and Alabama wins the game.

“Then you go down to a two-point play which is 50% either way. The guy is literally one foot from being stopped short. If he’s stopped short, it’s one play. Then they’re undefeated, they’re No. 1, No. 2 in the country.

“Those statements if they were getting beat by 14, 21 points, or something — that would be different. So it really is ridiculous but I understand it’s what you need to do in the media to have something to talk about.”

Since Alabama really began the run in 2008, only five losses have come by double digits. One was in the regular season against Auburn in the 2017 Iron Bowl. The other four were in postseason bowl games, including the 2018 and 2021 national championships.

Even during the 2007 season, seven points was the most the Crimson Tide lost a game by. In short, Saban is rarely on the losing end by 10 or more points.

‘Elite teams’ and ‘elite quarterbacks’ took down the Tide

Even in the two losses, Kiffin has yet to see Saban outcoached or Alabama completely outplayed by an opponent. He thinks two “elite teams” and “elite quarterbacks” just got the better of them in hostile environments with Neyland Stadium and Tiger Stadium.

“Nobody is really going to listen if you say ‘the dynasty is still going,'” said Kiffin. “But it is ridiculous. Like I said, dynasties are over when you start to see people being outcoached, outplayed, losing by 21 points.

“You’re talking about two of the hardest places vs. two really elite teams that at the time were as hot as anybody in the country when they went into both of those places and elite quarterbacks and down to one play.”

As much as Kiffin is propping up Alabama and their program, he will be hoping to accomplish what he’s been preaching as what could be the end of the dynasty. Ole Miss has a major chance on their hands, bringing in a still top 10 ranked Saban-led team to Oxford.

Kiffin will be hoping the theme of top-notch atmospheres and “elite quarterbacks” continue against Alabama with Vaught Hemingway Stadium and Jaxson Dart.