Lane Kiffin Blasts SEC's 9-Game Schedule as LSU Faces 5 Tough Tests

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 21

Lane Kiffin said the SEC's new nine-game format guarantees eight extra conference losses and leaves teams "more beat up" with less depth, as 5-2 LSU fights to stay in the playoff race.
The LSU coach argued the added game replaces an early nonconference win, hurting rankings for teams like Auburn and contributing to only two SEC teams sitting in the top 10.
Kiffin tied the depth problem to transfer-portal movement and NIL, saying roster churn already makes it hard to build backups and that adding another league game only worsens the strain.
LSU still must navigate Auburn, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas, with little margin for error after losses to Kentucky and Ole Miss.
The criticism comes as the SEC still gets poll benefit of the doubt—five two-loss SEC teams are ranked—while efficiency metrics cited in the report show the Big Ten with 9 top-30 teams versus 7 for the SEC.

Sources

Is Lane Kiffin's outrage over the SEC schedule a valid playoff warning or just an excuse for LSU's uneven start?

Could the SEC's pursuit of richer TV deals through a nine-game schedule ultimately sabotage its own national championship dominance?