Brian Kelly went 0-2 against Alabama as Notre Dame’s head coach, but he is 1-0 leading LSU against the Tide.

An overtime Tigers win in Baton Rouge last November effectively ended Alabama’s hopes for a national championship, and Kelly has not forgotten about the accomplishment in his first season at LSU.

Speaking at a Houston Touchdown Club event Tuesday, Kelly made reference to the victory.

“I love the environment of a college stadium. I love coming out on that field,” Kelly said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “I love beatin’ Alabama.”

According to the Chronicle’s Brent Zwerneman, there was “roar and applause” in the room from LSU fans.

The event has played host before to SEC coaches’ swagger. Two years ago, Fisher was asked by a fan at the Houston Touchdown Club about what it would take to beat Alabama before Nick Saban retires.

“We’re going to beat his ass when he’s there,” Fisher said in May 2021 as the room broke out in loud laughter. “Don’t worry.”

That is what Fisher did five months later when the Aggies toppled top-ranked Alabama in Kyle Field.

Propelled by its win over Alabama, LSU won the SEC West last season before losing to Georgia in the championship game.

“I told [LSU players], no longer are we going to sneak up on anybody,” Kelly told SEC Network after LSU’s spring game. “We’re the SEC West champs. Everybody now has got their eye toward LSU. Make sure you take that into your training.”

This is likely the final season of divisions in the SEC, and the final time Alabama and LSU will compete for an SEC West title. Nick Saban expressed displeasure earlier this offseason about Alabama’s three potential permanent opponents under the SEC’s proposed nine-game scheduling model, which could include LSU. But Kelly later said he embraced the possibility of continuing to play Alabama annually.

“I want to play the best,” Kelly told ESPN in March. “I came down here to the SEC because I wanted to play against Alabama. I want to play A&M. I want to play Auburn, the great teams, and in our new scheduling we get to play Alabama every year, Ole Miss every year and A&M.”

Alabama and LSU meet Nov. 4 this season in Tuscaloosa.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.