Ranking the top three home games on LSU football's schedule

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LSU football’s 2026 schedule is one of the hardest in the country. The Tigers‘ slate is usually among the toughest and this year is no exception.

Still, LSU expects to compete for the College Football Playoff in Lane Kiffin’s first year. LSU signed the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country, retained key contributors, and welcomed a talented crop of true freshmen.

Kiffin comes to LSU after a six-year run at Ole Miss. In Oxford, Kiffin was one of the most successful coaches in Ole Miss history. Kiffin led the Rebels to 11 wins and a CFP berth.

Kiffin has cited LSU’s home atmosphere as one of the main reasons he was attracted to the job in Baton Rouge. Not many programs in the sport can match Saturday Night’s in Death Valley. And with the excitement level for the Kiffin era reaching a fever pitch, 2026 has the chance to provide a handful of all-time nights in Tiger Stadium.

Today, we’ll look at the top three home games on LSU’s schedule.

3. Clemson — September 5

The Lane Kiffin era will officially begin on September 5, when LSU hosts Clemson in Tiger Stadium. This is Clemson’s return trip after LSU opened the 2025 season at Clemson. LSU won that game 17-10, in what appeared to be a statement win for Brian Kelly. The statement didn’t hold up for long as LSU’s season would crater a month later.

Clemson has fallen under Dabo Swinney. It was a perennial title contender in the late 2010s, but Clemson has struggled to recapture that magic. The talent level remains decent and the brand remains strong, and College Gameday already announced it would be in attendance for LSU vs Clemson.

Tiger Stadium will be packed with fans ready to see Kiffin’s debut.

2. Alabama — November 7

This one needs no explanation. Even if Alabama isn’t the powerhouse it was under Nick Saban, LSU vs. Alabama still carries the same weight. Beating Alabama doesn’t come easy for LSU, but the Tigers always put up a better fight with the backing of their home crowd. LSU’s win over Alabama in 2022 was one of the most memorable Tiger Stadium games of this century.

1. Texas — November 14

I’ll give LSU’s November game vs. Texas the top spot. This is later in the year, and there’s always a chance one or both of these teams is out of playoff contention by now, but I don’t expect that to be the case. LSU and Texas are both loaded with talent and should remain in contention deep into the year.

Texas was the preseason No. 1 in 2025. The Longhorns fell short of expectations, but Steve Sarkisian’s squad could begin 2026 in the same spot. Texas QB Arch Manning should be a Heisman Trophy contender, and this game will mark his return to the state of Louisiana. The state where he played high school football, and the state where his dad made a name with the New Orleans Saints.

This is a helmet game with two of the sport’s biggest brands. It should be a classic night in Death Valley.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU Football Schedule: Top three home games in 2026

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