Paul Finebaum evaluates Lane Kiffin's chances at becoming Alabama's next coach after Nick Saban

Lane Kiffin has led Ole Miss to a 5-0 start this season, and the Rebels currently sit inside the top ten in the latest AP Top 25. But despite the current success within the program, Lane Kiffin’s future continues to be talked about. While Kiffin’s name has been thrown around for some more immediate options, Alabama could be an option down the road once Nick Saban decides to call it a career.

SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday, where he evaluated Kiffin’s chances at becoming the next head coach at Alabama following Saban. He thinks that Kiffin would be an attractive candidate in Tuscaloosa, but the waiting game that would be required is something that will make that marriage unlikely.

“Well, I think it would be dangerous for Lane Kiffin to gamble on when Nick Saban is going to retire,” Finebaum said. “And also, unless someone could guarantee him that job – I don’t think anyone could guarantee him that. I think Lane Kiffin would be an attractive candidate, but I don’t think Lane Kiffin is really a patient person and I have a hard time believing that he would sit around waiting for Nick Saban to determine what’s next, unless Nick Saban said, ‘Lane, this is my last year.’ And Greg, what do you think the odds are of Nick Saban confiding anything in Lane Kiffin?”

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Lane Kiffin and Dabo Swinney could be in similar situations for Alabama consideration

Nick Saban came to Alabama in 2007. Since then, he has led the Crimson Tide to a 188-25 record, including a 15-6 clip in bowl games. Alabama has played in nine championship games under Saban, with six turning into title victories. Whoever takes over after Saban retires will have impossible shoes to fill, and Kiffin would be an interesting fit.

Ultimately, Finebaum thinks that there are a lot of people around Tuscaloosa that would be resistant to Kiffin as Alabama’s next coach. The same could be said for Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, according to Finebaum.

“I think Lane and Dabo Swinney are on that same wing of Alabama,” said Finebaum. “For some reason, there are people that are resistant. I think for some of the new-timers that might be resistant to Dabo, I think there would be an equal number or more that are resistant to Lane. There are a lot of reasons for that, some of which don’t need to be discussed here on a family show.”