Alabama football's 2026 trip to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge for its matchup against LSU got a bit more interesting when Lane Kiffin announced Sunday that he was leaving Ole Miss to take the Tigers' head coaching job.
Kiffin was officially introduced as LSU's coach at a news conference Monday afternoon in Baton Rouge. With Kiffin off to LSU, Ole Miss announced that another former Nick Saban assistant, defensive coordinator Pete Golding, would be the Rebels' "permanent" head coach through the 2025 College Football Playoff and beyond.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTime will tell if Kiffin was worth all the fuss for an LSU program that has made the College Football Playoff only once since the CFP's inception in 2014; in 2019, when the Tigers won the national championship.
What we do know is that when Alabama visits Baton Rouge, it won't be the first time the Crimson Tide have gone up against Kiffin, who was previously the Tennessee Volunteers' head coach for one season in 2009 before splitting for USC. He spent six seasons at Ole Miss, with four head-to-head matchups against Alabama while in Oxford.
Here's a look at how Alabama teams have fared in games where Kiffin was on the opposing sidelines.
Alabama football vs. Lane Kiffin: games, results, head-to-head history
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Nick Saban (L) of the Alabama Crimson Tide shakes hands with head coach Lane Kiffin (R) of the Tennessee Volunteers after the Crimson Tide's 12-10 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Matchup: No. 1 Alabama vs. Tennessee
Date: Oct. 24, 2009
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Result: Alabama 12, Tennessee 10
Kiffin's first time coaching against Alabama and Nick Saban almost upended the Crimson Tide's unbeaten season. Alabama needed two blocked field goals by Terrence Cody in the fourth quarter to survive an upset in that year's "Third Saturday in October" rivalry.
In the lead-up to the game, Kiffin made waves for asking Alabama to allow Tennessee to wear its home orange jerseys in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama refused.
"In talking with some people in the offseason about the history here and both teams wearing the home jersey, I thought it would be something that would be really neat for our fans and for their fans," Kiffin said at the time. "We were approved by the SEC, and Alabama denied us that."
Alabama also denied Tennessee and Kiffin a victory, handing the Vols a heartbreaking loss that was part of 15 straight in the rivalry. "Rocky Block" will always be a part of Alabama football lore.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHow Alabama football performed against LSU coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss
Nov 12, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban (left) and Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (right) shake hands prior to the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY SportsKiffin returned to the SEC at Ole Miss in 2020. Here's a look at his games against the Crimson Tide during his six-year stay in Oxford.
Matchup: No. 2 Alabama vs. Ole Miss
Date: Oct. 10, 2020
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Result: Alabama 63, Ole Miss 48
One of the Crimson Tide's closest contests during its 2020 national championship run came in the third week of the season in Oxford. Alabama fell behind 7-0 just 54 seconds into the game and fought to a 21-21 draw at halftime. The second half featured a 42-point Crimson Tide explosion that saw Alabama score on all six possessions.
Najee Harris had four touchdown runs in the second half, part of a five-touchdowns day overall. Alabama got a 14-yard run from Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, and Mac Jones threw a touchdown to tight end Miller Forristall.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlabama ended the night with 723 total yards, scoring on its final eight offensive series beginning in the second quarter. The two teams combined for 1,370. An absolute shootout.
Matchup: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 12 Ole Miss
Date: Oct. 2, 2021
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Result: Alabama 42, Ole Miss 21
The infamous, "Get your popcorn ready" quip. Kiffin said that to CBS sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl right before kickoff. Alabama responded by being Alabama: the Tide got out to a 28-0 halftime lead on the nation's top offense entering the day.
Brian Robinson rushed for a 171 yards, then a career-high, and four touchdowns. Bryce Young threw two touchdowns as the Crimson Tide smoked Ole Miss.
Matchup: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 11 Ole Miss
Date: Nov. 12, 2022
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Result: Alabama 30, Ole Miss 24
The 2022 edition of Alabama-Ole Miss was played much later in the season than its usual date. In the Crimson Tide's last SEC matchup before the Iron Bowl, Bryce Young threw for three touchdowns on a frigid afternoon and early evening in Oxford, Will Reichard kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, and Brian Branch knocked away a Jaxson Dart pass in the end-zone with 46 seconds left.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMatchup: No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 15 Ole Miss
Date: Sept. 23, 2023
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Result: Alabama 24, Ole Miss 10
Alabama's last matchup against Kiffin ended the same as all the others, with the Crimson Tide victorious. It sure didn't feel like a given for much of the game.
Entering the day, Alabama sat at 2-1 after a Week 2 home loss to Texas, and one of the ugliest wins of the Saban era a week later in Tampa, Florida, against South Florida.
The Tide trailed 7-6 at halftime but finally reached the end-zone in the third quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe to Jalen Hale for a 17-7 lead. Alabama never looked back, pulling away with an eight-yard Jase McClellan touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Will Alabama make it 6-0 against Kiffin when the Crimson Tide visit LSU next year?
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football results, history against new LSU coach Lane Kiffin
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