A good drama never follows a linear path; instead, it’s always zig-zag. We have more to add to the twists and turns that have become features of the drama between Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin.

In less than a week, we have had a book that revealed the extent of tensions between Saban and Kiffin during their time together in Alabama. The book brought out many juicy details, including Saban calling Kiffin a “narcissistic prick” after an argument. This was followed by Saban trying to walk back a little to calm the tides. If his praise of Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin’s team, did not succeed in damage control, worry not! Nick Saban has doubled down on his take.

Appearing on ESPN’s College Gameday, Nick Saban released his 12-team prediction for the college football playoffs. While there were some obvious inclusions like Liberty, Texas, Penn State, and LSU, Nick Saban did not forget the team of his former offensive coordinator at Alabama. Ole Miss found a mention in the 12-team prediction. Another surprising inclusion was Alabama, Saban’s former team, now being coached by Kalen DeBoer. Out of all the guests at the show, only Pat McAfee and Saban included Alabama in their predictions. Nick Saban’s choice of Ole Miss may have been a surprise to some, but is there a strong case for it?

Can Nick Saban’s choice be explained by the new additions to Ole Miss?

Earlier in the week, Nick Saban, after disassociating himself from the now-infamous quotes about Lane Kiffin, had predicted good fortunes for Ole Miss. As per the former Alabama HC, “Ole Miss is gonna be food and they’re gonna look like a big program up front.” After starting 5-5 in his first season, Kiffin led Ole Miss to an 11-2 finish last season, eventually winning the Peach Bowl. Despite that win, Kiffin must be aiming for a bigger price this season: an entry into the 12-team playoff.

To achieve that dream, Kiffin has made some significant changes to his team. Princely Umanmielen and Walter Nolen are the new additions to the defensive line. Both come with impressive numbers, with Nolen recording 37 tackles last season. Pete Golding, defensive coordinator of Ole Miss, must be vying to make the most of these new additions. The defense will already have the services of Trey Washington, who impressed with over 80 tackles last season. It’s not surprising that many people are banking on Ole Miss to improve on their performance last year. An 11-2 record is already a great finish; just a bit better, and Ole Miss can add the cherry on top with an entry into the playoff.

This season of college football is promising to offer many interesting narratives. Saban is tied to two of them: Kiffin’s Ole Miss and his former team, Alabama. Where do you think Ole Miss will finish this year? Tell us in the comments!