Nick Saban argues Lane Kiffin drama is emblematic of big problem

No. 5 Ole Miss is 10-1 with a legitimate shot at contending in the College Football Playoff, but the biggest story out of Oxford is Lane Kiffin's coaching future. This is emblematic of a much larger problem, Nick Saban explained Saturday on ESPN's College GameDay.

Saban, who won a national title with Kiffin as his offensive coordinator at Alabama, believes the coaching carousel taking place midseason is harmful to student-athletes and their programs.

LANE KIFFIN: Is Florida still in play for Ole Miss coach?

"Everybody should be thinking about the student-athletes, what's best for the student-athletes," Saban said. "Players should be able to play for his coach for the entire season. Players shouldn't be penalized if a coach leaves because the committee has the opportunity — if a player or coach doesn't participate, they can sink you in the rankings, so Ole Miss could go down in the rankings, maybe lose a home game."

Saban said college football should employ an NFL-style approach in which coaches can't leave until their seasons are over and contact with other teams is limited. The seven-time national champion is also an advocate of matching the academic calendar with the football calendar and eliminating the early signing day.

These changes, Saban argued, would foster a fairer environment for the student-athletes. But the NCAA needs to show courage and commitment to make them happen.

"This is not a Lane Kiffin conundrum," Saban said. "This is a college football conundrum that we need some leadership to step up and change the rules on how this gets done in terms of coaching searches and opportunities for people to leave. Players can leave, so if you went to the Ole Miss players, they would say, 'I want my coach to coach till the season is over. We've got a chance to go to the [College Football Playoff]; when's the next time we're going to have a chance to go to the playoff?' So, that's the way it should be regardless of what Lane decides to do."

Clarity on Kiffin's decision will likely come after next week's Egg Bowl, as Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter announced Friday he will share an update on the coach's future following the Mississippi State game. That doesn't sound promising for Rebels fans, to say the least. Kiffin has been heavily linked to LSU, but don't count out Florida just yet.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nick Saban discusses Lane Kiffin coaching rumors on College GameDay