Sports columnist Scott Rabalais gives his three takeaways from LSU coach Lane Kiffin鈥檚 news conference Monday to start Kentucky week. The game between the No. 10-ranked Tigers (4-1, 1-1 SEC) and the Wildcats (4-1, 2-1) is set for 6 p.m. CDT Saturday on ESPN from Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
1.聽STAND AND DELIVER
糖心传媒 quarterback Sam Leavitt has been a more effective passer the past two weeks while limited as a runner by a hamstring injury. Against Texas A&M and McNeese State combined he鈥檚 35-of-46 passing for 489 yards with five touchdowns, two interceptions and no sacks. 鈥淲ith the injury, when someone comes free he鈥檚 not just taking off and running,鈥 Kiffin said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 saying, 鈥極K, I鈥檓 going to step in and throw this one and take the hit.鈥 鈥
2.聽NIGHT CLASSES
Kiffin has talked previously about how difficult road night games are in the Southeastern Conference. On Monday, he said he hoped his Tigers learned some lessons from their 32-24 loss on Sept. 19 at Ole Miss: 鈥淚 hope in that you learn that, hey, it doesn鈥檛 matter how the first or second quarter goes. It may go great, it may go badly. You鈥檝e still got to play the game and win the game in the fourth quarter.鈥
3. NAMES SOUND FAMILIAR
The Kentucky offense has an LSU flavor because its new offensive coordinator is Joe Sloan, who was OC under Brian Kelly here. Wide receiver Nic Anderson 鈥 third on the team with nine catches for 120 yards and a touchdown 鈥 spent 2025 with the Tigers. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really well coached,鈥 Kiffin said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really sound on defense and run really cool, problematic plays. He (coach Will Stein) has got them playing with a lot of confidence.鈥