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LSU football faces multiple projected top-25 opponents throughout the 2026 regular season, its first under head coach Lane Kiffin. Just as they did last year, the Tigers face lofty expectations after signing the nation's top transfer portal class and a high school class with multiple five-star signees.

ESPN's Football Power Index, or FPI, projects the Tigers to win 8.4 games during the upcoming regular season. They are expected to lose less than four games, which would likely leave them on the outside of the College Football Playoff picture. By many analysts' standards, a season like that for LSU constitutes a failure.

Kiffin constructed a roster of 59 newcomers, most of which came from the transfer portal. The talent level is undeniable but staying healthy and developing chemistry are what will ultimately decide LSU's season. The purple and gold don't ease into the schedule, welcoming Clemson for a likely top-25 matchup in Week 1.

Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama and Texas face the Tigers as their likely ranked opponents. Kiffin and staff will need to knock off at least two of these teams on the SEC slate in order to be considered for a postseason berth.

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This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: ESPN's FPI predicts LSU football's 2026 win total

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