Auburn’s 27-24 shocker at No. 1 Georgia was the kind of result that can tilt a week in college football all by itself. It also raised an immediate question for LSU’s next matchup: does a huge road win fuel Auburn, or does it leave the Tigers flat at home?
Lane Kiffin addressed that exact dynamic on Monday, and he didn’t downplay it.
"No, that's a real thing. Relief syndrome is real," Kiffin said on Monday.
"It doesn't mean we're going to win this week and we're going to lose, but that is a real thing; it's a real challenge. Especially now, I say all the time, I think it's a harder challenge now because of all the access on their phones of people and media and all the stuff they see on social media."
Kiffin said the praise that pours in after a win like that can make the next game more difficult to handle.
"You start to be told how great you are when you have those wins," Kiffin added. "I was rooting for them at the end of the game to win, knowing we're playing them next week. It makes it more challenging."
That sets up a fascinating test for Auburn, which walked out of Athens with the kind of victory that can either spark a run or create a letdown. Auburn head coach Alex Golesh said the team has already moved on.
“We got in Sunday morning and flipped the page,” Golesh said, per Auburn on SI. “That's the piece, and I’ve said this before: good win or tough loss, it all has to be the same on Monday morning.”
LSU has an obvious answer if it wants to keep Auburn from carrying that momentum into Saturday: start fast. The Tigers have been productive early, scoring 45 first-quarter points over their last four games.
If Sam Leavitt can find a rhythm early and give LSU a lead, Kiffin’s team can seize control of the game. With Auburn coming off the biggest win of its season and LSU trying to blunt that energy, the first quarter could tell the story on Saturday.
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For LSU, the intrigue is obvious because any long-range Manning watch inevitably invites a look at potential landing spots if the quarterback decides to stay in college beyond the 2027 NFL Draft. Sarkisian has already hinted at more work for backup KJ Lacey, even if a full benching has not been announced, and that uncertainty has only fueled the idea that Mannings next move could become one of the bigger offseason plotlines in the SEC. Georgia, Ole Miss and Oregon are part of that conversation too, but LSU will be paying close attention if the slide continues. [Read more 🡒]
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LSU Faces A Pivotal Auburn Test In A Brutal Road Spot
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There is also more than just one game hanging over this trip. LSU is projected to be a slight favorite in its remaining games, which keeps the path to the SEC championship game in play, but Auburns upset of Georgia serves as a reminder that this is not the kind of road spot anyone should take lightly. For LSU, the challenge is as much about surviving a difficult environment as it is about proving its balance can travel when the stakes start to tighten. [Read more 🡒]