Lane Kiffin has been lobbying the College Football Playoff committee ever since Ole Miss suffered its third loss of the season. The Rebels effectively lost their shot at a CFP spot after falling to Florida, with Kentucky and LSU also dropping games in the process.
Despite these setbacks, Kiffin maintains that Ole Miss deserves a place in the 12-team playoff. He argues that the Rebels’ nine wins and their margins of victory set them apart from other three-loss SEC teams. While his case has merit—Ole Miss indeed has one of the strongest resumes among the teams currently on the outside looking in—they remain behind Alabama and likely South Carolina in the committee’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has entered the conversation, advocating for the Fighting Illini to be considered over Ole Miss based on their strength of schedule and quality of losses. Though Bielema’s argument holds some validity, it is unlikely to sway the committee. The challenge lies in evaluating every three-loss Power 4 team that might “deserve” a spot in the top 12, sparking debate over how many SEC teams should make the CFP.
Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas have already secured their places in the playoff. The question remains whether the SEC could add one or two more teams after conference championship weekend, or if the Big Ten could push for another berth. With the field still in flux, the only SEC teams in full control of their fate are Georgia and Texas. The rest must wait and hope for an invitation to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
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