As interim head coach Frank Wilson prepares LSU to take on Houston in the Texas Bowl, plenty of attention is being paid to Lane Kiffin and his QB search. Kiffin is a QB guru and has had great success at bringing in and developing QBs at Ole Miss via the transfer portal. As he continues building his roster for the 2026 season, Tiger fans are eager to see how Kiffin addresses LSU's QB situation in the portal.
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As it stands, Michael Van Buren is the only scholarship quarterback slated to be on the 2026 LSU Football roster. That means Kiffin going shopping for a QB in the portal is a certainty. But who will be his top target? He has plenty of options to choose from, but making the right choice in a high-stakes portal cycle will be pivotal.
Lane Kiffin is no doubt going QB shopping — and that puts Michael Van Buren’s future at LSU in serious question. 🔄
— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) December 19, 2025
If Van Buren leaves, the Tigers would have ZERO scholarship QBs on the roster, forcing LSU to add at least two portal quarterbacks. 🐯
A tricky, high-stakes… pic.twitter.com/P8qOyeVU8I
Tiger fans eager to see how Kiffin navigates the transfer portal at QB
LSU's 2026 recruiting class currently does not include any quarterbacks, and the two quarterbacks listed on the Texas Bowl depth chart are Van Buren and freshman Emile Picarella III. With that in mind, Kiffin will most likely pursue multiple quarterbacks in the portal.
With Garrett Nussmeier out of eligibility and Colin Hurley set to enter the portal, Van Buren is the lone scholarship QB on LSU's roster. After serving as LSU's backup to start the season, Van Buren started LSU's final three regular season games with Nussmeier battling an abdominal injury. Van Buren is expected to start the Texas Bowl on December 27, but his future after that remains in question.
Notable QBs planning to enter the transfer portal include Nebraska's Dylan Raiola, Arizona State's Sam Leavitt, Florida's DJ Lagway, and Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby. Other QBs planning to enter the portal who could be under-the-radar choices for Kiffin include Iowa State's Rocco Becht and Michigan State's Aidan Chiles. Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss is also a name to keep a close eye on, as Kiffin could look to bring him with him from Oxford to Baton Rouge.
Kiffin's proven track record has LSU fans excited at the possibilities. Jaxson Dart turned into a top-10 draft pick and Chambliss has burst onto the scene in his first year with Kiffin after several seasons at the Division II level. The stakes are high, but Kiffin has the experience and eye for QB talent that should give Tiger fans some confidence.