Lane Kiffin takes brutal NIL jab at Carson Beck on Pivot Podcast

The always outspoken Lane Kiffin has stirred the college football pot again and this time Miami is at the center of it. During a recent episode of The Pivot Podcast, the Ole Miss head coach cracked a joke at the Hurricanes’ expense, referencing a widely reported NIL deal believed to be in excess of $4 million to land Georgia quarterback transfer Carson Beck.

"Miami gave him $4.3 million?" Kiffin said, followed by a grin. "Did they watch the game when we played him?"

Beck, who was among the most efficient quarterbacks in the country last season, faced Ole Miss in a regular season matchup and finished with a modest stat line of 186 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception in a 28–10 Georgia loss. It was one of the worst offensive outings for the Bulldogs all year and Kiffin’s Rebels sacked Beck five times in that game.

The jab is classic Kiffin — part sarcasm, part trolling, and part commentary on the modern NIL arms race that has reshaped college football. But it also raises a deeper conversation about value, performance, and perception in the NIL era. The $4.3 million figure cited by Kiffin aligns with the current On3 NIL Valuation for Beck.

While the Hurricanes haven’t confirmed any NIL specifics, multiple outlets — including On3 and The Athletic — have reported that Miami boosters, including those affiliated with the NIL collective Canes Connection, made Beck’s recruitment a top financial priority. Beck’s NIL valuation is the second-highest in college football according to On3, trailing only Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

But what is perhaps most concerning, beyond the jab towards NIL and Miami, is the feeling from the college football landscape about Carson Beck. Beck has played well in plenty of high-pressure scenarios during his career, but he comes into 2025 looking reassert himself into the top QB's in college football conversation.