By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
There were many smart and convincing arguments that LSU coach Lane Kiffin considered before not going for it on fourth down and less than a yard to go at the Tigers’ 43-yard line and leading, 27-24, at Kentucky on Saturday night with just 1:46 to play.
-The defense was playing very well and had just held Kentucky to missed field goal attempts on the Wildcats’ last two possessions, including one that started on the Tigers’ 13-yard line.
-Kentucky had no timeouts left, and with a good punt and no return, it would start a drive deep in its territory with just about 90 seconds to play. And that’s what happened as its subsequent drive began at its 19 with 1:37 to go.
-LSU’s guard play has not been good all season, so therefore the Tigers’ short-yardag run game has not been good.
-A game-tying field goal attempt would be against the wind, and kicker Adam Zouagui had just missed 42- and 26-yard field goals.
But still, LSU’s offense led by Kiffin, an offensive genius, and his protege play caller Charlie Weis Jr., who is one of the best in college football, can get a yard in a variety of ways outside of behind the two guards. And a first down virtually ends the game. LSU could have snapped the ball to quarterback Sam Leavitt, who could have hit his knee three times to end the game.
Instead, Kentucky drove right down the field, and the third time was the charm as Zouagui kicked a 33-yard field goal with 12 seconds left for the 27-27 tie. And the Wildcats won it in overtime, 35-34.
“I was surprised he didn’t go for it,” On3 national columnist Chris Low said on Tiger Rag Radio Tuesday night. Low, who previously worked at ESPN for many years, has covered Kiffin since Kiffin was Tennessee’s head coach in 2009.
“It was fourth and a little bit less than a yard,” Low said. “He could’ve ended the game, and knowing him as long as I have and watching his career, yeah, I was surprised he didn’t go for it there. But Lane is smart enough to realize what the situation is. He trusted his defense there to stop them. I get it. I think if he had a mulligan, and we all want mulligans in life, he probably would’ve gone for it. And I bet he will be going for it.”
The next chance could arise on Saturday when No. 22 LSU (4-2, 1-2 SEC) hosts No. 16 Mississippi State (4-2, 2-1 SEC) at 11 a.m. on ESPN.
Lane might not punt the rest of the year. Needed a yard to ice the game and didn’t go for it. What a hell of a win for Will Stein and the Cardiac Cats.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) October 11, 2026
Low believes Kiffin is still a gambling man in games.
“I don’t think that’s changed,” he said.
And despite the interior line issues and the rest of Kiffin’s arguments, there were other reasons to go for it.
“You’re paying both those guys (Kiffin and Weis) a ton of money,” Low said. “You paid a ton of money to put that roster together (particularly on offense). And if you’re an LSU fan, you step back and take emotion out of it and say, ‘You know what, if we can’t get fourth and less than a yard with everything we’ve invested in the program with one of the better offensive minds out there (Kiffin at $13 million a year), we probably don’t deserve to win anyway.'”
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