On Saturday, No. 9 Alabama will face No. 15 LSU in a major rivalry showdown. However, the game will kick off at 2:30pm CST/3:30pm EST instead of the traditional primetime slot.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin was one of those surprised by the switcheroo, according to Austin Nivison of CBS Sports.com.
“I never even considered that it wouldn't be at night,” Kiffin said when asked about the kickoff time during Wednesday's teleconference.
It will be the first time since 2010 when the game wasn't played at night. Kiffin didn't think much of it.
“I didn't even think to think about the time,” Kiffin said. “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.”
Meanwhile, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBeor acknowledged the time change, per Charlie Potter of On3Sports.com. Essentially, DeBeor is taking it with a grain of salt, pointing out a few particulars, and focusing on the task at hand.
Article Continues Below“Well, I feel like we’re on the road, and so, I’d rather play at home if I’m gonna have all the advantages. But yeah, with the earlier kick, is that what you’re asking? Yeah, I don’t even choose that, I guess. I don’t have any choice in that. It is what it is. We just gotta show up for the play.”
Alabama is coming off a bye week. On October 24, Alabama defeated Texas A&M 31-20. Alabama currently holds the edge over LSU in the rivalry, with a 58-27-5 record.