Week 3 of the College Football season presented Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers with a massive opportunity to send a message as the team took the trip to Oxford for a top 10 clash. The season opener against Clemson established Lane Kiffin's new team as a championship contender, but beating Ole Miss would've sent a much bigger message.
Instead, the Tigers offense couldn't find a rhythm in the first half, and the defense couldn't find a way to slow down Trinidad Chambliss, allowing the Rebels to take a 24-7 lead that LSU couldn't overcome. Given how close LSU was in this game, the loss stings, and it especially hurts the Tigers' chances of making the Playoff in Year 1 of the Kiffin era.
The AP Poll punishes LSU for close loss in the toughest environment
On Sunday Afternoon, the Associated Press unveiled their updated AP Top 25 poll, and the Tigers slid 3 places down the rankings from 7th to 10th.
BREAKING: College Football AP Poll🚨https://t.co/rYOmnsZFh3 pic.twitter.com/73tiPpJfKr
— On3 (@On3) September 20, 2026
LSU was always going to take a hit in the polls, but there's a massive flaw with the Tigers being 10th while Ohio State ranks 7th at 2-1. Ohio State did lose to the Nation's No. 1 team, but they've beaten Ball State and Kent State, who are far from the same level. LSU has already beaten a Power 4 opponent in Clemson and a similar opponent to the Buckeyes' opponents in Louisiana Tech.
The Tigers’ loss just three games into the season puts added pressure on the team, as it’s difficult to afford three losses in a season under the new College Football Playoff format. Next weekend sets up a high-pressure clash against Texas A&M, with both teams coming off losses on Saturday. Another loss would put either team firmly into a do-or-die situation for the remainder of the season.
The good news is that Lane Kiffin and the Tigers will have plenty of chance to start picking off other Top 25 teams. LSU will face No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 24 Mississippi State, No. 8 Alabama, No. 1 Texas, and No. 14 Tennessee, allowing the Tigers a chance to damage everyone else's hopes.
Lane Kiffin controls this teams destiny, and the early loss is a setback that the team could overcome. The schedule the rest of the way is tough, but if the Tigers are a championship worthy team, they should be able to go on a run.
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