Lane Kiffin on SEC possibly adding injury reports: 'I don't think it's that big a deal'

The SEC is reportedly considering adopting rules to mandate injury reports ahead of games for the 2024 season, though the league has not yet formalized the change.

The Big Ten has already instituted a similar policy and reactions were mostly favorable.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin chimed in on the proposed legislation on Monday afternoon, and he offered up that he doesn’t much mind one way or another.

“I don’t think it’s that big a deal,” Kiffin said. “I mean there’s two sides. Coaches like competitive advantage of not saying injuries, but there’s also the side too of coach is concerned that if the injuries are out there that’s less people trying to get to their players to get inside information.

“I’m not; there’s a lot of things I have opinions on and feel strongly about. This is not one.”

Kiffin wasn’t entirely sure of the timeline, which has been left a little up in the air by the reporting. CBS Sports initially reported on the potential adoption of injury reports in the league, noting that discussions to finalize it were anticipated in the next week or two.

We’re right around that timeframe now. Kiffin cast at least some minor doubt on whether injury reports get pushed through before the 2024 campaign begins.

“I maybe should be more updated on that as far as where we are as a league,” Kiffin said. “We talked about it and it looked like it was coming this year, so I might be a little behind on it. Maybe that’s already out there that it is. Last I left they were still kind of pushing, working on that being done. So I don’t know that that’s going to be in place, whether that’s Week 1 or whether that’s for SEC games.”

As for some of the league’s other coaches, there are mixed opinions on the injury reports.

“If it helps with gambling then I’m all for it,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “If it’s geared to getting knowledge out there that people are trying to get from our student-athletes and it protects them, I’m certainly for that.”

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman echoed Smart’s comments on the injury reports.

“Personally, it wouldn’t be bother me if they want to know exactly what our injury report was,” Pittman said. “You’re going to find it out before the game anyway, if you’re at the game. You’re gonna see who’s suited out and who’s not. Who’s limping and who isn’t. But, I understand that if it would help our players not get needled for information, I’d be all for it.”