Lane Kiffin weighs in on Texas joining SEC, discussing 'super conference' with Steve Sarkisian

Lane Kiffin had some interesting thoughts on Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC during his time on the podium in Nashville.

The Ole Miss leader compared the SEC to the NFL with the addition of the Longhorns and the Sooners, and claimed it’s becoming a “super conference” that’s simply a step above the rest of the college football world.

“Texas, Oklahoma coming in is amazing,” started Kiffin. “I already look at our schedule, or when they put out our one for 2024, and I actually joked to Steve Sarkisian yesterday about the scheduling, and I was like, ‘Well, I don’t know why any coach would want to go to the NFL. Like, we’re in it now.’ So I mean, our schedule is like playing in the NFL in the SEC now, especially adding those two. So hats off to the commissioner for getting that done, and making the super conference of all time.

“And really the way it’s set up, it’s really like it’s kind of like everybody else, and then that, when you put together the competitiveness of the schedule compared to any other conference.”

Those are some strong words from Kiffin, but it’s tough to argue, even if it’ll hurt if you’re a fan of a team in a different conference. Continuing, the Rebels head coach elaborated on his relationship with Texas leader Steve Sarkisian, which dates back to their time together with the USC Trojans.

“I’ve had a great relationship with Sark,” added Kiffin. “I’ve kind of said before, we kind of both grew up fast, being the USC experience and being a part of Coach [Pete] Carroll’s staff, and all the great players there. You know I think 34 straight wins, and if we tackle Vince Young, you know three straight national championships. So that was really cool to go through that with him, and then we’ve just always stayed close.

“I think he’s doing awesome there. You know, the way he’s flipped the roster and recruiting at such a high level, and signing Arch [Manning], I think the future is extremely bright for Texas football.”

Evidently, Kiffin doesn’t have any hard feelings about losing Manning to his friend in Sarkisian. Luckily, the duo won’t have to face each other during Texas’ first season in the SEC in 2024, but the Rebels will play the Sooners.

Regardless, the future is bright for both Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian, as their programs look to be on the rise. Time will tell who gets the better of one another when they face off on the field though.