LSU coach calls Alabama daytime kickoff unfair
Lane Kiffin suggested the SEC scheduled the 2:30 p.m. start to weaken the home team's advantage during an ongoing legal dispute.
By Jasmine Carter ·
LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin suggested on Wednesday that the Southeastern Conference is working against his team by scheduling the upcoming game against Alabama for the afternoon instead of the evening. Kiffin made the comments during a regular SEC teleconference, where he addressed the specific time slot assigned to the matchup at Tiger Stadium.
The coach said he was shocked to learn the kickoff was set for 2:30 p.m. He stated that he never considered the possibility of a daytime start because the game had been played at night in Baton Rouge for the previous 16 years. Kiffin admitted that his assumption might have been naive, noting that he previously believed the evening slot was guaranteed.
Kiffin joked that the conference changed the time to reduce LSU's home-field advantage. He argued that the team plays better and creates a more intimidating atmosphere during night games. He claimed that anyone believing the SEC wants LSU to win this season must have been isolated from the news for the last four months.
The remarks come amid a strained relationship between the university and the conference. LSU and the SEC have been involved in an active lawsuit over the past few months. The dispute centers on LSU's push to add NFL players to its roster, a move that led to talks of the school potentially being removed as an SEC member before the season began.
The schedule places the LSU-Alabama game in a 2:30 p.m. Central Standard Time slot. Other major matchups, including Georgia versus Ole Miss and Notre Dame versus Miami, are scheduled for the 6:30 p.m. slot on ESPN. These other games are considered two of the biggest of the season, which explains the time allocation without requiring a specific strategy against LSU.
Kiffin has a history of framing himself as the underdog while drawing attention to his program. The coach's comments on the kickoff time add to the narrative surrounding the team's position in the conference. The game is scheduled to take place on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
The SEC has not publicly responded to Kiffin's specific comments about the scheduling intent. The conference typically assigns broadcast times based on network requirements and market size. The LSU-Alabama game will be the next major test for the Tigers, who are navigating the final stretch of the regular season.
