MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Lane Kiffin said he could have remained at Alabama as offensive coordinator through the national championship game if he had wanted.

Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban, meanwhile, got testy Tuesday when asked several times about how the Kiffin-to-Steve Sarkisian move would change preparation.

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, left, and head coach Nick Saban weren't always on the same page for Alabama this season. Kiffin has left to be the Florida Atlantic head coach. Associated Press/LM Otero

“We’re in the planning stages right now, so I don’t know why y’all keep asking me what changes we’re going to make,” he said.

Saban also dismissed Kiffin’s talk of possibly helping the Tide in some capacity from the press box Monday. He made it clear that’s not happening.

“It’s really not even possible from a legal standpoint for him to do those things,” he said. “That’s not something that we’re interested in pursuing.”

Kiffin told ESPN’s Mike & Mike show that the decision to leave was mutual, even though the Tide’s offense could have performed better in the 24-7 semifinal win over Washington.

“I know this was a decision that I came up with, and it was very difficult to do,” said Kiffin, who’s taking over as Florida Atlantic’s head coach. “This was not something that Nick Saban forced me to do by any means.

“If I wanted to coach this game, I would have coached this game, and I just thought that it wasn’t the best thing for the players.”

MINNESOTA: The school fired Coach Tracy Claeys, just over two weeks after the football program became embroiled in a standoff with the administration over the suspension of 10 players in connection with allegations of sexual assault.

The Golden Gophers went 9-4 this season and beat Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. But that was overshadowed by a threatened boycott of the bowl by the entire team a week before the game. The players ultimately decided against a boycott.

TENNESSEE: Defensive end Derek Barnett and wide receiver Josh Malone are planning to forgo their senior seasons to enter the NFL draft.

FLORIDA: Cornerback Quincy Wilson and offensive tackle David Sharpe are the first Florida players to leave school early this season and declare for the NFL draft.

OKLAHOMA: Running back Samaje Perine said he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

MICHIGAN: Junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers said he hasn’t made a decision on his future.

After a report on Forbes.com said he was heading to the NFL, a tweet calling the report “false” appeared on Peppers’ account. A subsequent tweet said: “This is going to be one of the hardest decisions in my life.”

WAKE FOREST: The school extended Coach Dave Clawson’s contract through the 2024 season.

Athletic Director Ron Wellman said the progress shown by the Demon Deacons “has been the type of progress we envisioned when Dave came on board.”

• Adam Scheier, the tight ends coach and special teams cordinator, is leaving the staff.

WASHINGTON: Four key players who helped lead the team to the Pac-12 championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff announced their decisions to forego their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.

Wide receiver John Ross, safety Budda Baker, defensive tackle Elijah Qualls and cornerback Sidney Jones are all leaving early after leading Washington to its first conference title in 16 years.

INDIANA: Mike DeBord was hired from Tennessee to become the offensive cordinator.

DeBord replaced Kevin Johns, who served in the role under former coach Kevin Wilson. Wilson resigned abruptly in early December because of what Athletic Director Fred Glass called a difference in leadership styles.

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