Lane Kiffin’s become a master at damaging his reputation. He took it a step further on Saturday.

The Alabama offensive coordinator acknowledged that he received texts from Steve Sarkisian -- a former coworker of his at USC -- during the second half of the Cotton Bowl. Sarkisian wasn’t asking him about his post-game plans, though.

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Alabama entered the half with a 10-0 lead over Michigan State before exploding for 28 points and a dominant 38-0 victory. Clearly, it was nothing more than a coincidence.

That, or Sarkisian was interviewing for a potential job opening in the future.

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"Oh, I definitely would [hire him]," Kiffin said during media day Saturday for the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T, per ESPN. "People go through things, and they happen. There are all kinds of comeback stories. ... Hopefully he'll be one of them.

"There's no question about that. There's no question about his relationships with the players, quarterback development. We all go through things, and I can tell talking to him that he has come back stronger and he'll be even better."

By “things,” Kiffin refers to Sarkisian’s alcohol use, which cost him his job at USC in 2015.

Fortunately for Sarkisian, one text might’ve reopened a door that seemed to be permanently shut.

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