Lane Kiffin predicts continued problems with transfer portal, NIL

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has been incredibly vocal in the debate about changes in college sports, namely the transfer portal and NIL. He isn’t done going in on it, either, as Kiffin predicted that there will be continued problems surrounding both of them.

The question came up during Kiffin’s National Signing Day press conference when he was asked about recruiting with NIL and the transfer portal.

“I think until someone takes a hold and fixes it, you’re gonna have these constant issues,” Lane Kiffin said. “As you guys know, I don’t give coach speak. So, I kind of come up here and I think a lot of people appreciate that because I get a lot of messages from people, fans, especially the media that appreciate, ‘Hey, we know when your press conference comes you’re gonna tell us what’s really going on out there.'”

Lane Kiffin has been notably outspoken about issues like NIL and the transfer portal. That includes sounding off about NIL in the past and feuding with Jimbo Fisher over Fisher’s NIL comments.

The big complaints about the transfer portal and NIL are that they’ve created free agency and pay for play. Kiffin is among those who have been saying that.

“Like I’ve said before, you have free agency without really proper windows. You know, and you have pay for play. I mean, I don’t think it’s any secret that what the NIL was intended to be, and if you had awareness, you knew it was never going to happen that way. The way they set it up is it’s pay for play, and how much money do kids get to go places. And, if I transfer and go there, how much am I gonna get versus how much if I stay?”

There were rumors that Lane Kiffin might leave Ole Miss this offseason for Auburn. That didn’t end up happening, though, and Kiffin got a large contract extension with Ole Miss. Staying put, he has to make sure that his players are staying put with him.

“So, it’s very challenging and it just feels like you’re in a constant battle of you’re in the middle of recruiting like you always were and then you’re recruiting your own kids. Out there, you think you’re recruiting your kids once they go in the portal. No, it’s not,” Kiffin continued.

“You’re recruiting your kids not to go in the portal because they’re being recruited, especially the significant young players. And the value of a young player that you can come take, like Quinshon [Judkins], because now he can’t leave again. So, now they’re recruiting more or significant money being offered to someone like Quinshon because now you have them for the next two years no matter what, really, and they can’t leave you. So, it’s very complicated.”

Lane Kiffin on the evolution of recruiting

Recruiting, clearly, has gotten more difficult for coaches. Lane Kiffin opened up about these new challenges that teams are dealing with in the modern era.

“I think it’s just gotten really complicated. It might be easier sometimes if you just don’t look at analytics and try to figure it all out and say, ‘OK, that guy’s a good player. We’ll take him,'” Kiffin said.

“I think now, at least in my opinion, you have to look at everything. Where’s the guy from? What’s his personality? Is he the type that is more apt to transfer? You’ve got to weigh in all those things that come with that.”