Is the era of college football dynasties truly over? That's the burning question sparked by Ole Miss's Lane Kiffin, and it seems Texas's Steve Sarkisian has some thoughts on the matter. Kiffin boldly declared that dynasties are dead in the current landscape of college football, a statement that's certainly stirred the pot. But what does Sarkisian think? Let's dive in.
Kiffin, speaking earlier this year, pointed to the significant shifts in college football as the cause. He argued that the days of dominant teams like Alabama under Coach Saban and Georgia under Kirby Smart, consistently winning by large margins, are gone. He believes the increased parity within conferences, especially with the addition of powerhouses like Texas and Oklahoma, makes it incredibly challenging to maintain that level of dominance.
"You’re going to have really good teams going 8–4 because we’re going to play nine conference teams, including five on the road. The conference has never been this balanced, and it never used to have Texas and Oklahoma, two top-10 teams and two of the hardest places in the country to play,” Kiffin explained.
When asked about Kiffin's comments, Sarkisian offered a concise response: "(Lane) says a lot." This suggests that Sarkisian may not fully agree with Kiffin's assessment.
But here's where it gets controversial... Kiffin didn't stop there. He also advocated for using analytics and computer models to determine postseason berths instead of human selection committees. He pointed out the flaws in relying solely on win-loss records, especially considering the varying strengths of different conferences. He believes that metrics like margin of victory, strength of schedule, and location of games should be heavily considered, similar to how baseball and basketball use the RPI.
"The records in college football are so burned into our heads that 11–1 is so much better than 10–2 and so much better than 9–3, but it’s so different because you’re in these different conferences,” Kiffin added.
Sarkisian's brief response implies he may not share Kiffin's broader views, especially as Texas aims to contend for a national championship. While the two coaches likely respect each other, their differing perspectives highlight the evolving nature of the SEC and college football in general. The potential demise of dynasties is a fascinating topic, given all the changes in the sport.
What do you think? Do you agree with Kiffin that dynasties are a thing of the past, or do you side with Sarkisian? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
