Lane Kiffin Criticizes New College Football Playoff Schedule Changes
The recent changes to the College Football Playoff (CFP) calendar have sparked a lot of controversy. Fans are frustrated, and so are some big names in the sport.
LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin is among the most outspoken critics. He hasn’t held back in sharing his dissatisfaction with the new schedule.
The alterations extend the semifinals and national championship dates. This has led to plenty of debate about what it means for players and the overall playoff structure.
So, what exactly has changed, and why is everyone so riled up? Let’s take a closer look at the specifics and the reactions swirling around the college football community.
Contents
Overview of the New College Football Playoff Calendar
The 2025 college football season wrapped up the second College Football Playoff since the expansion to 12 teams. The National Championship game landed at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on January 19, which happened to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Traditionally, the CFP schedule kicked off with the first two rounds on the third weekend of December. Quarterfinals usually happened around New Year’s Day.
After that, semifinals would follow on a Thursday and Friday, with the national championship game coming soon after. That was the rhythm everyone got used to—until now.
Key Changes to the Schedule
The next two editions of the College Football Playoff shake things up. The first and quarterfinal rounds are mostly the same, but there’s a noticeable shift: no New Year’s Eve game in 2026.
- Extended Semifinal Wait: The semifinals are now almost two weeks after the quarterfinals. That’s a big gap.
- Rescheduled Championship: The national championship moves to the fourth Monday of January. Feels a bit late, doesn’t it?
Plenty of folks aren’t thrilled. The long breaks could really throw off a team’s momentum and rhythm.
Lane Kiffin’s Reaction
Lane Kiffin’s been around college football for 26 years, so he knows a thing or two. He’s been especially vocal about how much he dislikes the new CFP calendar.
He took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent. Kiffin highlighted how players will now have to wait nearly a month between games, which just sounds brutal.
His tweet summed it up: Somehow the calendar got even worse on purpose… Kids play until Jan 25th and have almost a month between the games?!
He’s not alone—this echoes what a lot of coaches and players are thinking. A month-long gap? That’s tough to justify.
Historical Clashes with the CFP Calendar
Kiffin’s run-ins with the CFP schedule aren’t new. Back in 2016, while he was Alabama’s offensive coordinator, he couldn’t coach in the playoff after taking the Florida Atlantic job.
Steve Sarkisian had to step in for Alabama during that playoff run. More recently, after leading Ole Miss to its first-ever 11-win season and a CFP berth, Kiffin left for LSU, partly because of the tricky calendar.
It just keeps happening—coaches trying to juggle big moves and the CFP’s awkward timing.
Community and Media Reactions
The backlash isn’t just from Kiffin. Fans and media have been pretty vocal, too, especially online.
There’s a real sense that the new schedule puts commercial interests above the athletes. Some worry it could even raise the risk of injuries or mess with players’ performance.
Implications for Players and Teams
The longer breaks between games could have some real consequences:
- Disrupted Momentum: Teams that get hot late in the season might cool off with these long pauses.
- Increased Injury Risk: Going from weeks off to high-stakes games isn’t exactly ideal for staying healthy.
- Impact on Academics: The extended season could clash with schoolwork, and that’s a headache for student-athletes.
Honestly, it’s hard not to worry that the new schedule just isn’t putting players first.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the College Football Playoff
There’s still a lot of debate about whether these changes are good for the sport. No one’s sure how the longer breaks or the late championship will shake out in future seasons.
Teams and coaches might have to rethink how they train and prep. Maybe even change up strategies to deal with all the waiting around.
Potential Adjustments and Solutions
So what could actually help? A few ideas are floating around:
- Revisiting the Calendar: Maybe it’s time to shorten those breaks and keep the action moving.
- Enhanced Support for Players: More resources—academic help, mental health support—could go a long way during a longer season.
- Feedback from Stakeholders: Actually listening to coaches, players, and others before making big changes? That seems like common sense, right?
Conclusion
The recent changes to the College Football Playoff calendar have really set off a debate in the college football world.
Key figures like Lane Kiffin aren’t shy about voicing their concerns. The new schedule could shake things up for players, coaches, and fans alike.
If you’re curious about the latest twists and strong opinions, you can check out the full article here.
