Lane Kiffin is still sore about getting snubbed by the 12-team CFP format last season. After a 10-win season, which really should’ve put Ole Miss in the penthouse of college football, the Rebels found themselves locked outside. Instead, the ACC’s SMU and the Big Ten’s Hoosiers got in. Kiffin showed his frustrations when Indiana lost to Notre Dame and as Penn State wiped the floor with SMU. Did less competitive teams get a playoff bid? Well, that frustration is still there. But this time around, he’s making sure his SEC team has a surefire opportunity to make the playoffs.

Lane Kiffin is lobbying now. And at this week’s SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, he drew a line. On May 27, On3 Sports on X enlightened the internet about what the Rebels HC feels about the new CFP format. “The best system would be 16, and it would be the 16 best,” he said. And that’s his preferred format over other models.

Pete Thamel also reported Lane Kiffin’s comments on the different CFP models. “There’s still flaws in every system,” he said. But as the ESPN analyst wrote, “The system he prefers is a way to figure out the best 16 teams.” Kiffin’s stance isn’t just philosophical. It’s personal. The 2024 Rebels were No. 14 in the final CFP rankings after finishing the regular season 9-3. A strong record and a battle-tested SEC resume. And yet, snubbed. 

Lane Kiffin didn’t take the snub particularly well. As Notre Dame pummeled Indiana in a snoozy CFP opener last December, he tossed a grenade—“Really exciting competitive game @CFBPlayoff. Great job!!” And again, at the SMU-Penn State matchup, he bled sarcasm again when he wrote, “Way to keep us on the edge of our seats Committee…. Riveting.” And Ole Miss wasn’t alone in its frustration. 

The SEC backs Lane Kiffin’s 16-team preference

Lane Kiffin’s voice was heard after SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s big announcement to finalize the CFP format decision on or before November 30th/December 1st. Behind closed doors, the SEC has been growing increasingly wary of the compromises made to accommodate the rest of college football.

As Sankey revealed on Monday, “In our own room, I’ve had athletic directors tell me directly that we’ve given too much away to arrive at these political compromises. That we moved teams outside the 12 in, and we’ve spoken about that before. How many of those compromises does it take?”

While the CFP gears up for a tweak in 2026, the power brokers of the sport are lining up behind the 16-team movement. The Big Ten has already signaled support for a 4-4-2-2-1 model—four bids each to the SEC and the Big Ten, two each for the ACC and Big 12, one for Notre Dame or the top Group of Five squad, and three at-large selections. Of course, the ACC and Big 12 aren’t in favor of this, but it seems to be getting more nods than shakes. 

As the CFP Committee nears its decision deadline, Lane Kiffin’s voice is loud and raw. Ole Miss isn’t going to be left behind like it was last season.