College athletics is unpredictable. Revenue-sharing agreements and NIL deals have created new opportunities for parity, and you never know which players will enter the transfer portal when the window opens.
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But there’s one thing you can take to the bank: LSU football coach Lane Kiffin and attorney Tony Clayton probably won’t be invited to the SEC’s Christmas party this year.
Kiffin told reporters on the SEC coaches’ teleconference he was shocked the league scheduled LSU’s November 7th game against Alabama for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff instead of at night.
But Kiffin also suggested the SEC has little reason to do LSU any favors, considering the controversy surrounding his support for allowing players who were on NFL training camp rosters to return to college football, despite the league’s strong opposition.
“I was like, well, if 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,” Kiffin said. “So I guess when I look at it that way, I'm not surprised.”
Kiffin believes playing at night in Tiger Stadium gives LSU a significant home-field advantage. And the numbers back him up to a point.
Since LSU’s 2019 national championship season, the Tigers are 35-5 in night games in Death Valley.
But Alabama has won six of the last seven night games it has played in Tiger Stadium, shutting out LSU twice during that stretch.
The last time LSU hosted Alabama for an afternoon kickoff was in 2010, when the Tigers won 24-21.
Clayton takes aim at Sankey
Speaking of battles, Clayton won a court fight on Wednesday on behalf of his client, former St. John’s basketball star R.J. Luis, who wants to play for LSU this season.
A Baton Rouge judge signed an injunction that would allow Luis to play for the Tigers. According to the judge’s order, the SEC cannot punish Luis or LSU if he takes the court.
But SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has maintained that Luis is ineligible to play college basketball. After being named Big East Player of the Year following the 2024-25 season, Luis signed contracts to play for two different NBA teams, according to the SEC’s position.
With Sankey adamant that Luis should not be allowed to play college basketball, LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and coach Will Wade have said they will follow SEC rules. LSU has not added Luis to its roster.
“We’re going to follow all the SEC protocols with him,” Wade said at SEC Basketball Media Days. “I think it’s been pretty clear what the SEC protocols are on all that.”
Clayton, however, has made his feelings about Sankey abundantly clear.
Speaking to Tiger Rag Magazine, Clayton said Sankey “anointed himself God and thinks he’s above the law and he can do what he wants to do.”
“This country is a country of laws, not of men. The Sankeys of the world cannot supersede the law,” Clayton said.
Clayton has also referred to the SEC commissioner as “Kim Jong Sankey.”
The stakes could be significant if LSU decides to play Luis or football players who were on NFL training camp rosters. Potential consequences include substantial financial penalties, coaching suspensions and restrictions on LSU’s conference rights.
The SEC’s federal lawsuit against LSU, which alleges the university took steps to roster players who had signed professional contracts, is scheduled for a hearing November 18th in Birmingham.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that LSU is not attempting to roster former professional players.
The Tigers open their regular season November 3rd. The question is whether Luis will be on the roster.
College basketball analyst Jeff Goodman addressed the situation on X on Wednesday, expressing doubt that LSU would ultimately take the risk of playing Luis.
“I would be surprised if Will Wade tries to play RJ Luis,” Goodman said. “He has good enough roster right now and is smart enough to realize Luis isn’t worth the risk.”
Even Clayton acknowledged that he doesn't expect LSU to add Luis to the roster.
Clayton told Tiger Rag that the Luis family wanted to continue the legal fight, even if LSU ultimately decides not to play him.
