Where LSU football ranks in final preseason SP+ ratings

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LSU football continues to gain hype across the college football landscape as the 2026 season draws closer. In a week, the Tigers welcome Clemson for a Week 1 clash and begin the Lane Kiffin era. They have their biggest playmakers available, which boosts their standing in ESPN's final SP+ ranking of the preseason.

SP+ is a predictive statistic that measures team efficiency using tempo- and opponent-adjusted power ratings. ESPN includes an overall ranking, along with breakdowns for offense, defense, and special teams. Overall, LSU ranks No. 10 with a 20.4 rating.

The Tigers are third in the SEC behind Georgia (26.4) and Texas A&M (20.9). Their defense is third at 12.4 behind Ohio State (8.4) and Oregon (12.2). ESPN isn't as high on the LSU offense, which has a 32.6 rating. That is No. 21 nationally and makes the purple and gold the only top-10 overall team in SP+ without a top-15 offense.

Among SEC teams, LSU maintains a strong standing despite many offseason moving parts. Its offense has much to prove against some of the nation's top defenses in its first year under offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Where LSU football ranks in final preseason SP+ ratings

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