Sports columnist Scott Rabalais with his three takeaways from LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s 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. STAND AND DELIVER

LSU 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 combined he’s 35 of 46 for 489 yards with five touchdowns, one interception and no sacks. “With the injury, when someone comes free he’s not just taking off and running,” Kiffin said. “He’s saying, ‘OK, I’m going to step in and throw this one and take the hit.’ ”

2. NIGHT CLASSES

Kiffin has talked previously about how difficult road night games are in the Southeastern Conference. Monday, he said he hoped his Tigers learned some lessons from their 34-23 loss on Sept. 19 at Ole Miss: “I hope in that you learn that, hey, it doesn’t matter how the first or second quarter goes. It may go great, it may go badly. You’ve still have got to play the game and win the game in the fourth quarter.”

3. THE NAMES SOUND FAMILIAR

The Kentucky offense has an LSU flavor. New coach Will Stein’s offensive coordinator is Joe Sloan, who was OC under Brian Kelly. One of his weapons is wide receiver Nic Anderson, third on the team with nine catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, who spent 2025 with the Tigers. “They’re really well coached,” Kiffin said. “They’re really sound on defense and run really cool, problematic plays. He (Stein has) got them playing with a lot of confidence.”