Lane Kiffin tweaks Ohio State over use of Ezekiel Elliott

Lane Kiffin just couldn’t keep himself from taking a shot at Ohio State during his pre-Cotton Bowl media availability.

The Alabama offensive coordinator spoke to the media in the buildup to the Crimson Tide’s semifinal game against Michigan State on Thursday, and talk turned to Heisman Trophy winning running back Derrick Henry. Kiffin noted that the Spartans have faced a gifted running back already this year in Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott. Turns out, on the topic of Elliot, Lane’s got jokes:

Kiffin mentions Michigan St faced Ezekiel Elliott. "Hopefully we give the ball to Derrick more than they did. … Kidding. That's a joke."

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 27, 2015

For context, Elliott got just twelve carries and 33 yards in the Buckeyes’ loss to Michigan State, and was openly critical of the team’s playcalling afterward. It would seem that Kiffin agrees.