Lane Kiffin expressed deep disappointment that the historic LSU-Alabama rivalry will no longer be an annual fixture, marking the end of an era for the SEC West. Speaking ahead of No. 15 LSU’s upcoming clash with No. 9 Alabama, the Tigers head coach admitted he is “sad” that this weekend’s game will be the last time the two teams meet in consecutive years. The SEC’s transition to a nine-game conference schedule failed to designate the matchup as a protected rivalry, effectively ending the long-standing tradition of an annual battle between the two powerhouse programs.
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Under the new league structure, LSU and Alabama will skip the 2027 season entirely before returning to the field against each other in 2028. Going forward, the teams are guaranteed to meet at least once every two years, a significant reduction from the annual frequency that defined their competitive history. Kiffin acknowledged the financial realities driving these decisions, noting that realignments and rivalry protections often come down to monetary considerations rather than sporting tradition.
“I think that’s just sad,” Kiffin said via ESPN. “And I understand, so I’m not being critical. 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.” While recognizing the positive changes in college football, Kiffin joined a chorus of voices wishing for the preservation of such great traditions, highlighting the tension between modern business models and the emotional core of the sport.
Source: Yahoo Sports
