Lane Kiffin Rejects Running Clock in Blowout Win, Emphasizes Standard of Play

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin declined an offer from officials to implement a running clock in the second half of the Tigers' 63-14 victory over McNeese, stating his philosophy against shortening games.

"We talked in the locker room and then came out, and there was a conversation where [officials] asked me about, do you want to run the clock in the third and fourth quarter? And said no, I don't believe in that," Kiffin explained after the game. "You play the game, we decide when the game's over by the way that we play. And how physical that we play."

Kiffin challenged his team to maintain a high standard of play regardless of the score or the players on the field. "So I told the guys, I told them that we don't do that, and challenged them to come out and play really well. And set a tempo of how you play and a standard regardless whether you're first, second or third team of how you play at LSU."

LSU led McNeese 35-0 at halftime. While shortening the game might have been a strategic advantage given recent injuries to the Tigers, Kiffin's decision allowed more players to gain game experience. Backup quarterbacks Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet combined for 25 passes, eight different players rushed the ball, and 10 players caught passes. The Tigers scored 14 points in both the third and fourth quarters, while McNeese also scored 14 in the third.

The Tigers' victory marked their final non-conference game before beginning a seven-game SEC schedule. LSU will travel to Lexington, Kentucky, in Week 6 to face the Kentucky Wildcats.