Here's what Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin said about latest in conference realignment
OXFORD — When big-picture news breaks in college football, Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin usually has opinions. On Monday, he directed them toward the latest round of conference realignment, in which four Pac-12 schools are leaving for the Big 12, and another four for the Big Ten, all in 2024.
Kiffin coached in the Pac-12 while at USC, which last year announced its move to the Big Ten. He said he doesn't believe the changes are good for student-athletes or fans.
"I think it's really sad for fans that want to travel to games," he said. "And we're just talking about football here. Let's talk about all the other sports that now you have to fly across the country. They play on weekdays. They get back at 4 in the morning. They have to go to school. Parents aren't going to be able to see (nearly) as many games."
Kiffin pointed toward financial considerations as the reason for the decision. According to reporting from Matt Fortuna of The Athletic, Oregon and Washington initially will receive $30 million in annual shares of Big Ten media rights — half of what the other programs in the conference will make. That total will increase by $1 million every year until the completion of the conference's new TV deal with various networks.
According to Mark Faller of the Arizona Republic, the four new Big 12 programs — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — are expected to receive roughly $30 million in TV revenue from the conference.
"That's not for the betterment of the student-athlete at all," Kiffin said. "But it is what it is. It's about money.
"I hope nobody gets on these 17, 18 year olds that make decisions based off NIL money when all these universities are doing it. And it's just the tradition part. You're talking about 100 years of tradition just washed up for some more money."
RANKINGS: Ole Miss football starts season in USA TODAY Coaches Poll for third time under Lane Kiffin
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What Ole Miss football's Lane Kiffin said about conference realignment
