LSU football hasn't played a non-night game against Alabama at home since 2010.
That is, until now.
Alabama-LSU is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) kickoff from Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, despite the pair of two-loss teams vying for College Football Playoff berths. Fourteen of the last 16 matchups between the two powerhouse SEC programs have also been played at night, including a rare "Game of the Century" in 2019 from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin was initially "shocked" when he learned of the kickoff time, given the night-game history between both schools, especially in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Then, he said he realized
LSU success wasn't in the SEC's best interest.
“Well, obviously, the SEC wanted to change this year from how it had been to give LSU less advantage of how well LSU plays at night and how intimidating it is to play here,” Kiffin told reporters on the SEC's monthly teleconference call on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
"I was like, 'Well, someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what’s been going on?' They must have just been on Mars the last four months. So, I guess when I look at it that way, I’m not surprised.”
Kiffin, LSU football and LSU athletics, in general, have ruffled feathers across college football and the SEC in recent months. Kiffin is listed as a defendant in lawsuit filed by the SEC against LSU, regarding the program attempting to add former NFL signees Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris to its roster.
Kiffin's comments also come amid LSU basketball and first-year coach Will Wade's attempts to add former NBA signee RJ Luis, who never played in an NBA game, to its roster. Luis — who was denied eligibility by the SEC — and his lawyers asked a Louisiana judge on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to block the SEC from punishing LSU if Luis is added to its roster this season.
LSU has an impressive 30-3 record at home since 2022, dating back to former coach Brian Kelly's first season at the helm. The Tigers, which are off in Week 9, will have played three straight non-night games when it faces Alabama. Curiously, LSU has won both of its most recent afternoon kicks with the Crimson Tide, winning 24-21 in Baton Rouge in 2010 and 46-41 in Tuscaloosa in 2019.
Kiffin called 2026 Alabama the best roster the program has had in years, despite its two losses. A loss for either team potentially puts their CFP hopes in jeopardy, meaning the Tigers could use all the help they could get, especially like a night game.
“Especially in 16 years, this game has been at night here all the time,” Kiffin said. “I never even considered that it wouldn't be at night. So, I guess that's probably naive of me.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lane Kiffin calls conspiracy on SEC for LSU-Alabama. Here's why
