ESPN has shifted where they had the LSU Tigers in way too early 2026 College Football Top 25
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The LSU Tigers are set to kick off the Lane Kiffin era. The expectations are beginning to rise heading into the 2026 college football season.
There is a lot of energy around the LSU program as the Lane Kiffin era begins. The Tigers are a team that always attracts talent. If the coaching and development are good, they are a group that can quickly ascend toward being a championship-caliber team.
Despite there being a lot of overhaul on this coaching staff and roster this offseason, the expectations are already high. In the early top-25 ranking from ESPN, LSU was placed at No. 15. With spring winding down, Mark Schlabach redid that ranking, coming in at No. 11, with the buzz being considered.
Here is what Schlabach wrote about LSU, that ascension, and how excited everyone should be about this group.
11. LSU Tigers
2025 record: 7-6, 3-5 SEC
Previous ranking: 15
Key players lost: QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Barion Brown, WR Zavion Thomas, S A.J. Haulcy, DE Jack Pyburn, LB Harold Perkins Jr., CB Mansoor Delane, WR Aaron Anderson
Key additions: QB Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), WR Jayce Brown (Kansas State), WR Eugene Wilson III (Florida), WR Winston Watkins (Ole Miss), WR Tre’ Brown III (Old Dominion), DE Jordan Ross (Tennessee), DT Stephiylan Green(Clemson), S Ty Benefield (Boise State), G Devin Harper (Ole Miss), LB TJ Dottery(Ole Miss), DT Lamar Brown (high school)
2026 outlook: Let the fun begin at LSU, where new coach Lane Kiffin arrives with what is reportedly a $40 million roster. While Kiffin preached patience this spring, there’s no slowing down the Lane Train when it comes to preseason hype. Leavitt is coming off foot surgery. In 2024, he led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title by throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. Kiffin and his staff loaded the roster with proven receivers, and they grabbed several transfers to rebuild what was a very mediocre offensive line in 2025. Retaining defensive coordinator Blake Baker was a coup, as was persuading linebacker Whit Weeks to come back.
Why you should buy into LSU
With Kiffin coming in, there should be a lot of excitement for what this team will accomplish, and that begins in 2026. The LSU staff has spent a lot of time rebuilding the offensive line and wide receiver room. Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is set to lead this team, which should bring a lot of optimism for an exciting offensive attack under the guidance of Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss Jr.
On top of bringing Weiss over with him, Kiffin was also able to convince defensive coordinator Blake Baker to return in 2026. There is a lot of talent returning on that side of the football. Just how good the defensive line is next season will determine how good they will be on a national level. How everyone meshes, and how quickly, will be key.
What could hold the Tigers back?
Whenever you have so much turnover on the offensive line, there is the possibility for an offense to falter, even if the talent is there. Leavitt is also coming off an injury, limiting his availability to mesh with the offense this offseason. The talent is there, but anytime there are this many moving parts, there is a chance for some volatility.
With home games against Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Texas, as well as away games with Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Auburn, the Kiffin era is going to begin with a pretty difficult schedule, which is traditional in the SEC. Would it be reasonable that there could be some bumps early in the tenure? It is definitely possible.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos