LSU's Lane Kiffin Accuses SEC of Keeping Officiating Errors Quiet After Kentucky Loss

LSU coach Lane Kiffin is publicly criticizing the Southeastern Conference over how it handles officiating reviews. Days after the Tigers lost 35-34 in overtime to Kentucky, he said the league admits mistakes to coaches in private and keeps them from the public.

According to EssentiallySports, Kiffin said LSU had not yet gotten the conference's review of the game. He added that coaches are not allowed to share what the league sends back anyway. He described it as a system where "they admit they're wrong, but they don't want you to know," EssentiallySports reported.

The first play Kiffin objected to came just before halftime. LSU led 17-14 with three seconds left when Kentucky faced fourth-and-goal from the 1, and quarterback Kenny Minchey ran a tush push. Kiffin argued that forward-progress rules should be applied the same way no matter how important the play is. He said he understands that officials have to decide in real time without slow-motion replay. He also pointed to what he saw as a missed block in the back on a Kentucky punt return, and he told reporters he did not think the game was well officiated for his side.

The last disputed call came on the play that ended the game. In overtime, a Kentucky player appeared to move before the snap on the Wildcats' two-point try, and a flag came out. Officials ruled that Kentucky had called timeout before the infraction. A false-start penalty might have changed Kentucky's decision to go for two. Instead, Minchey ran in the conversion. It was Kentucky's second straight 35-34 overtime win.

The complaints come as Kiffin faces his own criticism. EssentiallySports reported that some LSU fans accused him of throwing his players under the bus after he blamed poor execution for the loss. The outlet also noted an earlier dispute between LSU and the SEC over the Tigers' attempt to roster players who had signed with NFL teams. LSU later dropped that effort. EssentiallySports said there is no evidence connecting that dispute to Saturday's officiating.

LSU, now 4-2 and ranked No. 22, has little time to dwell on it. No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1) comes to Baton Rouge on Saturday at noon Eastern on ESPN. Even after the loss, the Tigers are clear favorites. LSU is favored at -471 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and DraftKings has the best sportsbook price at -535. The spread is LSU -14.5 and the total is 58.5. A second loss in a row would put LSU's place in the rankings in doubt, and the full market is on the game page.

No. 15 Kentucky (5-1) is on the road at Oklahoma on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on SEC Network. Oklahoma is favored at -223 on Novig and -250 at BetMGM, the best sportsbook price. The spread is Oklahoma -6.5 and the total is 43.5. Prices are on the matchup page.

The SEC has not said publicly whether it agrees with any of Kiffin's complaints. Under the system he described, the public may never find out.