Where LSU football ranks in first US LBM Coaches Poll of 2026
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LSU football was ranked No. 13 in the first US LBM Coaches Poll. The initial rankings dropped on Tuesday afternoon. Despite ranking top-15 nationally, six other SEC teams sit in front of the Tigers.
Expectations are high for the Tigers in year one under head coach Lane Kiffin. LSU inked the top-ranked transfer portal class and signed a handful of talented recruits from the high school ranks. Kiffin brought his offensive staff from Ole Miss, which consistently produced prolific units in Oxford. Kiffin retained LSU DC Blake Baker after Baker's defense ranked top-15 nationally in 2025.
LSU will open the season vs. Clemson Sept. 5. Dabo Swinney's Tigers ranked No. 23 in the Coaches Poll, officially making the contest a ranked matchup. ESPN's College Gameday will broadcast live from Baton Rouge in Week 1.
| Rank | School (Record) | Points | Last Season's Rank | 1st Place Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State (12-2) | 1,741 | 6 | 38 |
| 2 | Oregon (13-2) | 1,637 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | Georgia (12-2) | 1,591 | 5 | 7 |
| 4 | Texas (10-3) | 1,544 | 13 | 2 |
| 5 | Notre Dame (10-2) | 1,524 | 11 | 5 |
| 6 | Indiana (16-0) | 1,522 | 1 | 14 |
| 7 | Miami, FL (13-3) | 1,409 | 2 | – |
| 8 | Texas A&M (11-2) | 1,174 | 8 | – |
| 9 | Oklahoma (10-3) | 1,104 | 10 | – |
| 10 | Mississippi (13-2) | 1,096 | 3 | – |
| 11 | Alabama (11-4) | 1,050 | 9 | – |
| 12 | Texas Tech (12-2) | 1,034 | 7 | – |
| 13 | LSU (7-6) | 951 | NR | – |
| 14 | USC (9-4) | 838 | 21 | – |
| 15 | BYU (12-2) | 781 | 12 | – |
| 16 | Michigan (9-4) | 719 | 22 | – |
| 17 | Penn State (7-6) | 463 | NR | – |
| 18 | Tennessee (8-5) | 428 | NR | – |
| 19 | Washington (9-4) | 406 | NR | – |
| 20 | SMU (9-4) | 378 | NR | – |
| 21 | Utah (11-2) | 313 | 14 | – |
| 22 | Iowa (9-4) | 291 | 17 | – |
| 23 | Clemson (7-6) | 235 | NR | – |
| 24 | Houston (10-3) | 194 | 19 | – |
| 25 | Missouri (8-5) | 158 | NR | – |
Ohio State earned the top spot. Despite losing production to the NFL, the Buckeyes reloaded and return star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Georgia, at No. 3, was the top-ranked team in the SEC.
Six different teams earned first-place votes in the poll.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Where LSU football ranks in first US LBM Coaches Poll of 2026
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