LSU’s loss to Alabama feels like more than just another setback in Lane Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge. It feels like a reality check.
The Tigers entered the matchup with a 6-2 record and a No. 14 ranking in the College Football Playoff committee’s first rankings. They had an opportunity to make a statement against one of the SEC’s biggest programs and strengthen their case for a playoff spot. Instead, LSU walked away with a 31-13 loss.
And while the season is not technically over, the path ahead has become much harder to see. For a team that entered the year with expectations of competing for an SEC championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff, Saturday’s result raises a difficult question: Has LSU already reached its ceiling under Kiffin this season?