Lane Kiffin out as Alabama Offensive Coordinator

Will Alabama secure another title, or will Clemson exact revenge for a year ago?

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday that he doesn’t anticipate a dramatic change from Kiffin to Sarkisian.

It’s early, but the talk and notes have already started to break down the title game.

They said there was no disrespect, and the common phrase used was, “When two good teams are playing, one of them has to be the underdog”.

The Tigers turned an expected tight game with No. 2 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl into a 31-0 runaway, the third shutout of the season for a defense that lost six starters with college eligibility left to the National Football League draft. Since losing to Pitt 43-43 in November, the Tigers have been on a mission. Although Saban won’t call his buddy in SC to confirm that.

Bottom line is Nick Saban is a guy who wants total focus and wants the elimination of any distractions to his teams.

His new role has never been more valuable than against a ferocious pass rush like Clemson’s.

Kiffin indicated Tuesday that he and Alabama are checking into whether he can help the Tide from the press box during the game.

Every team from year-to-year is different. Taking down Clemson again would make this championship number five for Saban during his Alabama tenure, and number six for his career.

The timing of the move comes as a surprise as it has been made one week before the Crimson Tide are to play Clemson for the national championship.

Then for good measure, Alabama’s offense vs. Washington was underwhelming.

According to bowl officials, Alabama’s game with Washington was the 153rd college football game played in the dome. But he made up for it with two more scores on the ground while the Tigers ran for 205 yards. Kiffin told SI reporter Pete Thamel even though he was one of the sport’s highest-paid assistants with an annual salary of $1.4 million, he really didn’t make that much after paying taxes and alimony to his ex-wife.

What was surprising past year was that Watson was able to do all of that damage without his top two receivers – Mike Williams, who missed the game due to an injury, and Deon Cain, who missed the game due to being suspended for breaking team rules. Howard that stung Clemson’s secondary, a unit that had three of last year’s four starters selected in the 2016 National Football League draft.

Alabama had just 57 passing yards against the Huskies. A similar difference won’t shatter the Crimson Tide defense this year, either. Expect Watson and the receivers to spread the field and take advantage of the concerns in the secondary.

There’s no doubt Alabama’s defense is the best in the nation. While that would explain why he would take a job at a place like Florida Atlantic instead of holding out for a bigger program, I find it hard to believe that Saban couldn’t just enforce his will on anybody.

You could see things coming to a head last week in Atlanta before the national semifinal game with Washington.

This year’s front four is led by versatile end Christian Wilkins.

Senior P.J. Davis returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, a awful start for Kentucky (7-6) in its first bowl in six years. Had USC’s offense not fallen apart in the 13-9 loss to UCLA at the end of the 2006 campaign, USC – not Florida – would have played Ohio State for that season’s national title. In essence, he would be flipping roles with Sarkisian, who was an offensive analyst for the Tide before his anticipated promotion. He’s already thrown his best player under the bus. With two proven and experienced leaders anchoring the back seven, Clemson matches up well against Alabama’s receiving corps and three-man rotation at running back.