Kiffin vs. Saban; Heels vs. Hokies inWeek 6 action
Lane Kiffin gets the chance to snap one of the more interesting streaks in college football.
The new Mississippi coach faces his old boss, Nick Saban, when the Rebels take on No. 2 Alabama on Saturday in Oxford. Saban last week improved to 20- 0 when facing teams led by one of his former assistant coaches. The Crimson Tide hammered Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A& M team.
Kiffin worked as offensive coordinator for Saban from 2014-2016, helping the Crimson Tide win a national title. Fittingly for a coach who has had a volatile career, Kiffin’s time with the Tide ended the week before another national championship.
Despite the awkward departure, Kiffin had a little fun with Saban this week, telling the “Dan Patrick Show” he didn’t think the “elderly” 68-year-old coach could cover him one-on-one,
Saban said Kiffin was probably right.
“I guess what I would ask is, when he’s my age, what’s he going to do?” Saban told reporters. “I don’t know, it’s a little bit of a disadvantage to be my age and have had a hip replacement, but I still pride myself on my ability to cover. I just don’t think I can cover him.”
On the field, AlabamaOle Miss has a chance to be a fun matchup between two high-scoring teams, with an interesting side story. It is hardly the marquee event on a schedule that includes four game matching ranked teams — two in the Southeastern Conference and two in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Plus, a Red River Showdown heavy on desperation.
Best game
NO. 19VIRGINIA TECH AT NO. 8 NORTH CAROLINA
There are sexier games on the schedule, most notably No. 7 Miami at No. 1 Clemson, but Hokies-Heels is probably the best bet to provide four quarters of competitive football.
The TarHeels are trying to start 3- 0 for the first time since 2011. The Hokies are 2- 0, despite playing each of their games with a thin roster because of COVID-19 issues. Virginia Tech has yet to have quarterback Hendon Hooker or defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton participate on game day, and last week beat Duke without its top four cornerbacks.
That would be less than ideal against North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell and talented receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome.
Virginia Tech running back Khalil Herbert, a transfer from Kansas, is coming off a school record 357 all-purpose yards against Duke.
The Hokies beat the Tar Heels in six overtimes last season.