LSU fans will not get the night game they wanted for Alabama’s trip to Baton Rouge.
The SEC announced Monday that the Tigers’ Nov. 7 matchup with the Crimson Tide will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, ending the expectation that this year’s edition of one of college football’s biggest rivalries would unfold under the lights in Tiger Stadium.
That news hit hard with LSU supporters, who have long tied Saturday nights in Death Valley to the program’s identity. The reaction online was immediate, and plenty of fans made it clear they wanted a primetime stage for a game with this much weight.
In a Reddit discussion titled "Bama at 2:30? C'mon Man!!!", one LSU supporter wrote, "Not gonna lie, I'm pretty disappointed."
The fan then pointed to the atmosphere and the history surrounding the matchup.
"Some games just deserve to be played under the lights," the supporter added.
There is some extra sting in the timing, too. This will be the final annual meeting between LSU and Alabama before the SEC’s revised schedule breaks up the yearly format. The two teams won’t meet again in Baton Rouge until at earliest 2030.
For LSU fans, that turns this into more than just another kickoff slot. It means the chance to host Alabama in the kind of setting Tiger Stadium is known for is disappearing for the foreseeable future.
The selection also reflects the SEC’s television process. The matchup had a flexible designation before the season, leaving it open for either an afternoon or evening window.
In the end, the conference and its TV partners placed LSU-Alabama in ABC’s 2:30 p.m. CT slot, while Georgia-Ole Miss landed in the 6:30 p.m.
CT primetime window.
Some fans wondered whether the choice had anything to do with LSU beyond television logistics, but there is no verified evidence that the selection was meant as retaliation against the university. The confirmed explanation points back to the broadcast decision-making process.
The move also means Alabama’s unusual run of night games in Baton Rouge is over. The Crimson Tide have played seven consecutive night games at Tiger Stadium, and that streak ends next Saturday.
The rivalry itself is still carrying plenty of weight on the field. Both teams enter the matchup at 6-2, and LSU has built some momentum with back-to-back wins over Mississippi State and Auburn. Lane Kiffin's offense has shown considerable improvement in recent weeks, particularly through the development of quarterback Sam Leavitt and LSU's passing attack.
There is still a lot riding on the outcome. LSU’s November slate starts with Alabama and continues against Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas, so the Tigers’ path through the month is loaded. With both LSU and Alabama already at two losses, another defeat could be a serious blow to either team’s postseason chances.
That is what makes the lack of a night kickoff so frustrating for LSU fans. The game still has the kind of national importance that usually demands the spotlight. Instead, Death Valley will have to deliver its usual chaos before sunset.
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