College football is now two years into its NIL era. Some teams have had to adapt more than others, but every program has been forced to adjust to the new, unprecedented financial freedoms of players.
Some within the game have criticized the phenomenon wholesale. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, however, gave an honest assessment of NIL's impact on the Rebels's approach to program-building in an interview with SEC Network.
First, the veteran coach acknowledged how beneficial the system as currently constituted is for players.
"One good thing about it being broken is the players, and I've told them, it's a great time for them to capitalize on this," Kiffin said. "You can capitalize three times, you can capitalize in high school, you can capitalize with your one-time transfer, and you can capitalize as a grad transfer."
However, Kiffin also expressed his perception that the system works against sustaining success at school like Mississippi.
"I think kind of accepting you’re going to not have phenomenal culture. It doesn’t mean I don’t work on it," Kiffin said. "We don’t have many kids dying to be here... These transfers go to a place that fits them best at that time. It’s not about the school."
Kiffin, however, lamented the roster instability that increased player agency has brought to college football.
"Unfortunately, now, it's like plug and play," he said.
The Rebels — 23-13 in three years under Kiffin — open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Mercer.
