SEC Media Days: Lane Kiffin wowed by Alabama QB Bryce Young's NIL earnings

(Rogelio V. Solis/AP)

Alabama coach Nick Saban caught Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin off guard on Tuesday.

Saban, speaking at the Texas High School Coaches Association convention, revealed that starting quarterback Bryce Young had already racked up "almost seven figures" in name, image, and likeness earnings. 

Young signed with Creative Artists Agency back on July 2.

"And it's like, the guy hasn't even played yet," Saban said, according to a report from The Athletic. "But that's because of our brand."

Young played in seven games in his freshman season for the Crimson Tide. He threw just 22 passes.

So, when asked at SEC Media Days about Saban's comments, it was the first Kiffin heard of it.

That produced a genuine reaction.

“That number just blew me away,” Kiffin said. “[The school’s sports information director] didn’t prepare me for that. That’s amazing. He made a million dollars and hasn’t started a game yet? Wow, I don’t even know what to respond to that, but great for him."

Kiffin then expressed that he's all for players being compensated, yet Young's numbers still fascinated him.

“It is neat the players can make money now and profit off of their hard work and what basically everybody else in America gets to do," Kiffin said. "So I’m excited about it. I think it’s very challenging trying to figure out how these things happen and what’s legal and what’s not in all that. I was asked earlier about it. I said I’m excited for it. I wouldn’t want to be compliance departments, but a million dollars? Whew.”

Kiffin also jokingly suggested Young should sit out against the Rebels. You know, due to all that money he's making.

“The guy’s made a million dollars already?" he asked. "That’s good, man. He don’t need to play next year against us, then."

The Tide will host Ole Miss on October 2 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.