LSU coach Lane Kiffin had the opportunity to enact a running clock in the second half of the Tigers' rout of McNeese, a game during which his team led 35-0 and eventually won 63-14.
Kiffin not only turned down the running clock — he took a timeout immediately after the second-half kick.
Speaking after the game, the first-year LSU coach said he wanted to "send a message" the Tigers dictate the flow of the game, including when it ends.
"I just wanted to make sure they understood — we talked in the locker room and then came out and there was a conversation, you know, where they asked me, 'Do you want to run the clock in the third
and fourth quarter?' And I said, 'No.'
"You know, I just don't believe in that. You play the game and we decide when the game's over, by the way that we play, and how physical that we play. And so I told the guys, I told them we don't do that, and challenged them to come out and play really well and set a tempo. ..."
Lane Kiffin wasn’t interested in LSU taking its foot off the gas against McNeese.
— Mike Scarborough (@ScarboroughMike) October 4, 2026
“We decide when the game’s over by the way that we play and how physical that we play.”
Kiffin on playing to a standard — regardless of the opponent, score or whether you’re first, second or third… pic.twitter.com/e3K42h4TvG
LSU managed to get the second- and third-string teams in, as well. Starter Sam Leavitt completed 18 of 23 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns to one interception. Backups Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet combined to complete 13 of 25 passes for 188 yards.
Kiffin also appeared perturbed in his halftime interview, calling out Winston Watkins Jr. for dropping two first-half touchdowns, which may have informed him of his second-half position of finishing strong.
“One player, Winnie Watkins, drops two touchdowns…
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 4, 2026
Put a freshman in behind him and he went and scored two touchdowns, so that was good to see…” Lane Kiffin at halftime of LSU vs McNeese
(🎥 SEC Network) pic.twitter.com/i7IIfSvz2a
Credit to McNeese, which scored 14 third-quarter points. Still, the Tigers outscored the Cowboys 28-14 in the second half. LSU will now move to the SEC portion of its schedule, taking on Kentucky, Mississippi State and Auburn before taking a bye game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Lane Kiffin refused running clock in McNeese rout: 'We decide when the game’s over'
