Lane Kiffin's roster moves to bring in the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country have LSU fans fired up about the possibilities for the 2026 season. LSU has not qualified for the College Football Playoff since its historic 2019 National Championship winning season, and fans are hungry to compete for another title.
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There is already plenty of hype and expectations surrounding Year 1 of the Kiffin era. On paper, the talent is there for LSU to compete for a spot in the CFP and a National Championship. But the talent must come together in the right way, and the Tigers must navigate a tough schedule to reach their goals for 2026.
An early look at LSU's 3 toughest toughest games for the 2026 season
According to On3, LSU has the 9th-toughest schedule in the country for this upcoming season. The schedule presents plenty of challenges from the jump, and while it won't be easy, finding the win column in these matchups will go a long way in helping LSU's National Championship hopes in 2026.
vs. Texas (November 14)
Like LSU, the Texas Longhorns utilized the transfer portal to bring in several key players for 2026. Most notably, Steve Sarkisian landed former Auburn WR Cam Coleman, who was ranked as the No. 2 overall player and top WR on the market by On3. Furthermore, RB Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and RB Raleek Brown (Arizona State) bring a strong dynamic to the Longhorn offense.
QB Arch Manning returns, and expectations continue to rise for Manning now that he has a full season of being Texas' QB1 under his belt. After looking much-improved in the second-half of last season, Manning is the early odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2026.
What makes this matchup against the Longhorns even more tricky for LSU is that it comes one week after the Tigers host Alabama in Baton Rouge. It's good that both games come at home, but facing the Longhorns and Crimson Tide in back-to-back weeks will be a lofty challenge.
at Ole Miss (September 19)
The matchup between LSU and Ole Miss on September 19 in Oxford is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the entire college football season. The game marks Kiffin's return to Oxford after a messy breakup with Ole Miss following the 2025 regular season. That dynamic alone is enough to pique the interest of college football fans across the country. But the matchup on the field also presents plenty of intrigue.
Earlier this month, Judge Robert Whitwell made the decision to grant Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss an injunction against the NCAA. The ruling paved the way for Chambliss to receive a medical redshirt for a sixth season and become eligible to play in the 2026 season. Ole Miss now returns one of the best quarterbacks in the country after advancing to the CFP semifinals this past season. Chambliss was a matchup nightmare against LSU when they met on September 27, as he threw for 314 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 71 yards and 5.1 yards per carry on the ground.
Ole Miss also brought in a strong transfer portal class, which is ranked No. 2 in the country by On3. Pete Golding has the Rebels looking like a solid contender once again as he heads into his first season in Oxford. Looking to avenge the September loss to the Rebels this past season, the Tigers will need to bring their A game to Oxford for this one.
vs. Alabama (November 7)
As previously mentioned, the month of November presents many challenges for Kiffin and the Tigers. The month gets started on November 7 when the Alabama Crimson Tide visit Baton Rouge for a rivalry showdown at Tiger Stadium. The Tide defeated Oklahoma in the First Round of the CFP this past season before losing handily to the eventual National Champion Indiana Hoosers in the Rose Bowl, now entering Year 3 in Tuscaloosa, Kalen DeBoer enters a pivotal season at the helm of the Alabama program.
QB Ty Simpson is off to the NFL, which leaves Alabama with a QB competition between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Both players have physical tools beyond those of Simpson, and have plenty of hype surrounding them.
LSU and Alabama have had plenty of heavyweight fights over the years, but the Tide have dominated the series in recent seasons. After a 20-9 win over LSU on November 8, Alabama has now won 15 of 19 meetings against LSU since 2008. Needless to say, this game is circled on the calendars of LSU fans heading into the 2026 campaign.