Not a surprise-Ahead of South Carolina-Clemson, Lane Kiffin takes shot at Tigers

Ahead of the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry game, Lane Kiffin takes a jab at the Tigers

South Carolina football fans are gearing up for their annual rivalry game against the Clemson Tigers, with both teams vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff, making the stakes especially high. As tensions rise, one of the most notable remarks aimed at Clemson this week came not from a Gamecock, but from Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, known for his candid remarks, much like former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier.

During his “Reb Talk” radio show, Kiffin was discussing Ole Miss’s chances at making the College Football Playoff when the topic of strength of schedule came up. He remarked, “To think that you’re looking at schools and talking about Clemson’s schedule compared to Alabama’s…” and added, “Take some of those teams that haven’t played anyone and put them in the SEC, they’re .500 teams.” Kiffin also criticized the CFP Selection Committee for not giving more weight to strength of schedule, calling it “stupid.”

For context, according to the Massey Ratings, Clemson ranks 60th in strength of schedule, while Ole Miss sits 12th, and South Carolina ranks 10th. The entire SEC outperforms Clemson in this category, while the highest-rated ACC team, Florida State, is ranked 20th. Kiffin also called out the Big 12, which has a better SOS than the ACC but still falls far behind the SEC.

Despite Kiffin’s comments, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee has made it clear that strength of schedule will not be a primary factor in their rankings. This is reflected in both statements from committee chair Warde Manuel and the rankings themselves.

For South Carolina, strength of schedule won’t matter unless they can secure a big win over Clemson this weekend. The Gamecocks are ranked 15th in the CFP rankings, while the Tigers are 12th. A win would boost South Carolina’s chances of making the 12-team playoff. The game kicks off at noon at Memorial Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN and available for streaming on the ESPN app. South Carolina won the last meeting 31-30 in 2022, eliminating Clemson from playoff contention.