Lane Kiffin’s second season as Alabama’s offensive coordinator is closing fast, yet there still remains a chance for a national title. He and the Crimson Tide’s offense will face a tough Michigan State defense in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.
Kiffin has produced two Heisman finalists (Amari Cooper, Derrick Henry), a Biletnikoff Award winner (Cooper), a single-season passing record holder (Blake Sims) and a Heisman Trophy winner (Henry) in two seasons. Alabama has averaged 35.5 points under Kiffin, while accounting for 422.5 yards per game this season.
His name has been tossed into the rumor mill for multiple head coaching offers; however, Kiffin expects to return to Alabama next season per Chris Lowe of ESPN.
He was offered a coaching job in the National Football League in 2014 with San Francisco, but Kiffin did not want to leave Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.
“It didn’t feel right,” Kiffin said. “He really took a chance on me. The phone wasn’t ringing, even for assistant coaching jobs. It wasn’t, and I felt like we didn’t really finish what we started last year and to see if we could go this year and finish how we should have finished last year and get him another championship.”
Kiffin has Alabama back in the College Football Playoff as the only returning program from last season. He eyes a third national championship (USC, 2003-04 AP national champions), with a shot to have an even greater offensive output next season.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
