The utter mess that Lane Kiffin's decision left Ole Miss in right before the College Football Playoff brought out one deeply problematic issue in college football to the limelight again: the ill-timing of the calendar.
December is probably the toughest of it all, with the Early Signing Period clashing with the postseason, all while a possibility of their head coach getting fired or going away during those Bowl game preparations. And that's not even touching the transfer portal window.
Several analysts had been blaming the hectic calendar, only making it worse for teams like Ole Miss that are undergoing a head coaching change at the last minute.
Greg Sankey opens up on the real problem
Greg Sankey finally admitted that the calendar was to blame for the whole Kiffin drama.
“We should be able to have competition through the year with those rosters and coaching staff intact,” Sankey said Thursday, per The Athletic. “And we ought to figure out how we can adjust collectively on a national basis to make that happen.”
“There are opportunities for adjustments to the calendar that, at least in my view, probably won’t solve everything but could provide a healthier environment, and where there are solutions so that you’re not disrupting a team season, I think those should be pursued.”
“Can changes be made? Absolutely. Is it just the recruiting calendar? Likely not,” Sankey said. “Perhaps it’s a competitive calendar that can be explored.”
Ole Miss got all the hard luck this season since they had the least notice to prepare for the CFP with a head coaching change as a Top-12 team.
The unfortunately precarious spot could have been avoided were it for a rule of head coaches only leaving post-postseason wrap-up, or a slight change in transfer portal and early signing period.