Nick Saban Retires: Is Extension Enough to Keep Ole Miss Safe From Alabama Stealing Lane Kiffin?

Will the Ole Miss Rebels have to fend off another suitor for head coach Lane Kiffin following Nick Saban's retirement?

If you're a fan of the Ole Miss Rebels, you're likely tired of this conversation, but when you win big, it's bound to happen.

Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide announced his retirement on Wednesday, and with an opening at a program of that magnitude comes heavy speculation on who will fill the shoes of "the GOAT."

Lane Kiffin obviously has a history at Alabama, serving as the offensive coordinator under Nick Saban from 2014-16, and since arriving as the head coach at Ole Miss in 2020, he has revived the Rebels program and put it back on the map in the national spotlight.

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Kiffin has never been shy about his praise and admiration for Saban, consistently using the "GOAT" moniker on social media to refer to his former boss. After leading Ole Miss to its first 11-win season in program history, would Alabama take a look at Kiffin as the new face of its program?

It's possible, but there are challenges.

For starters, Kiffin just signed an extension with Ole Miss at the end of the 2023 season. That complicates matters. There's also the issue of a "cultural fit" with the Crimson Tide, meaning would Kiffin have the freedom for his personality in a place like Tuscaloosa?

There's also the potential difficulty of following a coaching legend. It's very difficult to be "the guy after the guy," so to speak, but dollar signs and a proven ability to win multiple national championships can salve those wounds rather quickly.

Nick Saban to Retire; Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Impact?

Still, it's worth noting that Pete Thamel's instant-reaction list of potential candidates at Alabama left out Kiffin's name, so if you're an Ole Miss fan looking for some good news on that front, there's your story.

The coaching carousel was largely thought to be over, but Saban's departure will definitely shake up the college football landscape. Will Lane Kiffin be a moving piece in that realm? Time will tell, but the Rebels will do all they can to keep him placed in Oxford.