Lane Kiffin Laments Alabama-LSU Rivalry Change, Urges Early Drinking

LSU coach Lane Kiffin said he is “sad” that the annual Alabama-LSU football game is ending after 63 consecutive seasons, and he told Tigers fans to “start drinking earlier” to prepare for this year’s 2:30 p.m. local kickoff. The comments, made at a Monday news conference, highlight how conference realignment and television money are reshaping traditional college football rivalries.

What happened

Alabama and LSU meet Saturday in Baton Rouge at 2:30 p.m. local time, not the nighttime slot that has become customary for the series. Both teams are 6-2, and the game carries major College Football Playoff implications. It is also the last of 63 straight seasons in which the two schools have played. They will meet again in 2028, but under the SEC’s future scheduling format they will not play every year.

Kiffin blamed money for the change. “I think that’s just sad,” he said. “All the decisions, usually, I think all of them probably really come down to money, whether that’s the realignments, whether that’s the rivalries.” He added that he understands the forces at work and is not being critical, but that he wishes more traditions were protected.

On the earlier kickoff, Kiffin pointed to Tennessee’s recent game against Alabama, which he said showed noise affecting Alabama’s offense at a 2:30 p.m. Central start. He suggested LSU fans could replicate that atmosphere by shifting their routines earlier. “If you are used to 6:30, four hours earlier, start your day earlier,” he said. “Have breakfast earlier. Start drinking earlier, whatever is your routine, just move it up.” He also advised going to bed earlier Friday night.

Kiffin noted that in his 16 years in the SEC, the game has always been at night. “I never even considered that it wouldn’t be at night,” he said. The source, OutKick, also pointed out that Kiffin, while coaching Ole Miss, once complained that LSU got to play night games while his team did not.

Why it matters

The end of the annual Alabama-LSU game is a concrete example of how SEC expansion and the pursuit of television revenue are altering longstanding traditions. For fans, it means a marquee rivalry will become an occasional matchup rather than a yearly fixture. For the teams, Saturday’s game is a critical playoff eliminator: the loser will have three losses and a much harder path to a berth. The earlier start time may reduce the nighttime home-field advantage LSU has relied on, though Kiffin’s suggestion that noise can still be a factor at 2:30 p.m. suggests the atmosphere may not be entirely diminished.

Key facts at a glance

What this means for you

• If you plan to attend or watch, note the 2:30 p.m. local start—four hours earlier than the traditional nighttime slot.
• Kiffin’s advice to “start drinking earlier” is informal and not a safety recommendation; fans should pace themselves and plan transportation.
• Fantasy football and betting interests should weigh the earlier kickoff and the possibility of reduced nighttime crowd noise, though Kiffin believes noise can still be a factor.
• College football fans should expect more rivalry disruptions as conference realignment and TV contracts continue to shape schedules.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Alabama-LSU not playing every year?

The SEC’s future scheduling format, driven in part by conference expansion and television considerations, will not pair the teams annually. Kiffin attributed the change to the influence of money.

What time is the Alabama-LSU game?

The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time in Baton Rouge, an earlier start than the nighttime slots that have been customary for the rivalry.

What did Lane Kiffin say about LSU fans drinking?

He suggested fans adjust their game-day routines earlier, including starting to drink earlier, to bring energy for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

When will Alabama and LSU play again after this year?

The teams are scheduled to meet again in 2028, but not on an annual basis under the current SEC scheduling model.

What to watch next

Whether the earlier kickoff affects the game atmosphere and outcome, and how the SEC’s future scheduling decisions further alter traditional rivalries. Also, whether Kiffin’s comments draw responses from fans or conference officials.