The landscape of college football is currently weathering a storm of controversy that has fans, analysts, and former coaches questioning the very foundation of the sport’s leadership. In a recent high-energy discussion on The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty, Coach JB and sports journalist Steve Kim delved into the “mess” surrounding Lane Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss for LSU, specifically focusing on the logistical nightmare of coaches juggling two jobs during the College Football Playoff (CFP).
The central point of their critique is the “half pregnant” state of coaching staffs. Steve Kim highlighted the absurdity of pundits suggesting Kiffin should “finish the job” at Ole Miss while simultaneously building a future at LSU. Drawing on a vivid analogy from a former teacher, Kim argued that in high-stakes adult decisions, there is no room for gray areas. You are either fully committed to your current program’s championship run, or you have moved on to the next chapter. The current NCAA calendar, however, creates a vacuum where loyalty and professional necessity are in direct conflict.
Coach JB was even more blunt, describing the situation as a “mockery” and a “damn shame.” He pointed out the fiscal and professional dissonance of coaches who are technically off the Ole Miss books—having received buyouts or forwarded payments—yet are still expected to coach a team in the semifinals. This creates a scenario where assistants are flying back and forth between recruiting for their new employer and running practices for their old one. JB argued that this is a massive disservice to the student-athletes at Ole Miss who have worked all year to reach this historic moment.
The discussion also touched on the potential impact on the field. With rumors swirling about offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. potentially heading to the NFL with the New York Giants, the stability of the Ole Miss offense is under a microscope. JB emphasized that you cannot simply replace a season’s worth of institutional knowledge with analysts or GAs in the middle of a playoff run against a powerhouse like Miami. The “tempo” and unique play-calling that got Ole Miss to this point could be jeopardized by a distracted or depleted staff.
Beyond the coaching carousel, the duo took aim at the NCAA’s broader failures, specifically the timing of the transfer portal. With over 5,700 players currently in the portal during the most critical part of the season, JB and Kim argued for a May portal window. The current system forces coaches to balance playoff preparation with the frantic need to secure a roster for the following year, all while the NCAA leadership “cowers and hides” behind a lack of a central commissioner for the sport.
As the CFP progresses toward the National Championship on January 19th, the shadow of these “adult decisions” looms large. While Ole Miss continues its “video game-like” run on the field, the turmoil behind the scenes serves as a stark reminder of a system in desperate need of reform. Whether the NCAA will acknowledge these “f*** ups” and rectify the calendar remains to be seen, but for now, the message from Coach JB is clear: the leadership has dropped the ball.
