Lane Kiffin Sends Clear Message After LSU Signs Nation’s No. 1 Transfer Portal Class
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LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin addressed reporters on Wednesday during his first National Signing Day press conference since taking the job at Baton Rouge in late November.
At the top of the discussion was the Tigers’ No. 1-ranked transfer portal class, a historic haul that includes Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback and prospective starter Sam Leavitt, Colorado Buffaloes offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and Ole Miss Rebels edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, all three of them within the top five players available in the 2026 cycle, according to 247Sports.
The transfer-portal haul goes along with a No. 11-ranked high school recruiting class for LSU, according to 247Sports.
Still, Kiffin made it clear that having so much talent on paper does not equate to performance on the field once the season gets rolling.
“We have a really talented roster,” Kiffin said. “Does that mean we’re gonna win games? Not necessarily. Does that mean we’re gonna be a great team? No. We have a lot of work to do now.”
#LSU has the top transfer class in the nation and also has a top-15 recruiting class.
The talent is there for Lane Kiffin’s first year, but now it’s about putting it together on the field pic.twitter.com/mY7suEsEWF
— Sara Palczewski (@SaraPalczewski) February 4, 2026
The offseason saw LSU lose 38 players to the portal following the firing of former head coach Brian Kelly. In response, Kiffin overhauled the roster with 40 additions, saying the changes were necessary given the state of the program he inherited.
“I don’t have magic dust,” Kiffin said. “So we changed a lot because there needed to be changes.”
While the Tigers boast one of the deepest transfer groups in the country, Kiffin stressed that expectations will now necessarily shift to actual results.
“If you go get a staff and pay them what you do, you expect a lot,” Kiffin said. “It’s no different than these players that are sitting here. We pay a player a lot, and we have a lot of expectations for them. They need to produce.”
According to Kiffin, 21 of the new signees are sophomores or younger, signaling a build for both now and the future. Kiffin also acknowledged LSU’s brand and the city of Baton Rouge as key assets in luring top-tier talent.
“The whole town was amazing in recruiting,” Kiffin said. “The players could feel that.”
Despite all of the excitement around LSU, Kiffin repeatedly emphasized the challenge he’s facing as he and his staff will need to build a new group into a cohesive unit.
“We’re just getting started,” Kiffin said. “Now it’s time to go to work.”
LSU will open its 2026 season at home against the Clemson Tigers on Sept. 5.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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