Sports · American Football · 3 hrs ago
LSU-Alabama Set for Afternoon Kickoff, Surprising Lane Kiffin
The SEC scheduled Alabama's Nov.
7 game at LSU for the afternoon, rather than at night.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin said he had assumed the game in Baton Rouge would be played under the lights, as it has been in recent years.
The matchup is part of a rivalry between two major SEC college football teams, and Tiger Stadium is known for its intense night-game atmosphere.
Kiffin joked that the SEC might be trying to reduce LSU's home-field advantage and said he would not be surprised if the league did not want LSU to win.
The game time alone does not guarantee an advantage: LSU has lost six of its last seven night home games against Alabama.
LSU faces pressure to beat Alabama because another loss would make its route to the College Football Playoff much narrower.
The teams are set to meet on Nov.
7, and the result could affect LSU's playoff hopes.
The SEC scheduled LSU’s home game against Alabama for the afternoon of Nov. 7, rather than at night.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin said he had expected the game to be played at night.
The rivalry game had been played at night for the previous six seasons.
Kiffin suggested the SEC might be trying to reduce LSU’s home advantage, but the article reported no response from the league.
Ole Miss, Kiffin’s former employer, received a primetime slot for its home game against Georgia.
- Who
- LSU and Alabama, with LSU coach Lane Kiffin commenting on the schedule.
- What
- The SEC scheduled the game for an afternoon kickoff instead of at night.
- When
- Nov. 7, 2026. The kickoff time was announced on Oct. 28.
- Where
- LSU’s home stadium, Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, also known as Death Valley.
- Why
- The SEC announced an afternoon kickoff; the sources do not state its reason. Kiffin suggested the league might be seeking to reduce LSU’s home advantage.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The last time Alabama and LSU did not play at night in Baton Rouge before this scheduled game, according to CBS Sports.
The SEC announced kickoff times for its Nov. 7 games, including an afternoon start for Alabama at LSU.
Alabama is scheduled to visit LSU for the afternoon game.
- Kickoff date
- Nov. 7, 2026
- Kickoff timing
- Afternoon
- Venue
- Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge
- Schedule announcement
- Oct. 28, 2026
- Previous six seasons
- Alabama-LSU rivalry game was played at night
1 source
What people are saying
I never even considered that it wouldn't be at night
I just assumed, especially since the last 16 years, this game has been at night here all the time. I guess that's probably naive of me.
If someone thinks the SEC wants us to win this year after what's been going on, they must've just been on Mars the last four months.