{
  "id": 17850043,
  "title": "Lane Kiffin says it's 'sad' LSU-Alabama is no longer an annual matchup",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/lane-kiffin-says-its-sad-lsu-alabama-is-no-longer-an-annual-matchup",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T20:20:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lane-kiffin-says-sad-lsu-202033591.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The LSU-Alabama college football rivalry, a staple of American sports for decades, will no longer be an annual matchup as of this year, according to LSU head coach Lane Kiffin. The long-standing clash between the SEC West division titans, featuring top-15 teams LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) and Alabama (6-2, 4-2), will take place for the final time on Saturday, Nov. 7, inside Tiger Stadium. Kiffin expressed his disappointment over the decision, stating that it's \"sad\" to see such a historic rivalry no longer an annual event. The SEC's move to a nine-game conference schedule, implemented over the offseason, led to the discontinuation of several longstanding rivalries, with the LSU-Alabama matchup being one of them. Kiffin, who has been publicly opposed to the SEC's nine-game format, believes that money and TV contracts have driven the changes, ultimately impacting the tradition and spirit of college football. The current SEC permanent opponents for all 16 members include Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Ole Miss, leaving little room for flexibility when it comes to maintaining cherished traditions like the LSU-Alabama rivalry.",
  "summary": "LSU football coach Lane Kiffin said he's sad that LSU and Alabama won't play each other every season now.",
  "key_points": [
    "LSU-Alabama rivalry ending as annual matchup",
    "Coach Lane Kiffin expresses sadness over decision",
    "SEC's nine-game schedule causes discontinuation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}