It's only February, but there is already plenty of hype surrounding the LSU Football program heading into the 2026 season. The hype began the minute Lane Kiffin was hired to be the program's next head coach and continued to build as Kiffin navigated LSU through the transfer portal in January.
Along with signing the No. 1 portal class in the country, Kiffin also retained several key playmakers and signed a pair of incoming 5-star recruits. No matter how you slice it, there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to LSU's roster upgrades for Kiffin's first season on the bayou.
LSU watches as SEC foe gains momentum for elite 5-star defender
LSU is already listed as a 10.5-point favorite over Clemson in the season opener on September 5, and with odds of +1300, has the 7th-best odds to win the National Championship next season on DraftKings Sportsbook.
However, not all media outlets are sold on LSU for the 2026 season. CBS Sports released some way-too-early bold predictions for next season, and LSU didn't receive a ton of love.
CBS Sports has LSU on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff
CBS Sports' Cody Nagel has LSU ranked No. 14 in the country in his way-too-early top-25 for next season, but his bold prediction is one that Tiger fans aren't fans of. Despite the significant roster and coaching staff upgrades for the Tigers, Nagel has LSU missing the College Football Playoff in Kiffin's first season.
While Nagel notes that LSU went for it all through the portal, he has concerns of growing pains on both sides of the ball that could hinder LSU's ceiling in 2026. He also notes LSU's schedule, which is among the toughest in the country next season.
"Expectations of a CFP run in 2026 began the second Lane Kiffin stepped off the plane in Baton Rouge. LSU spent big in the transfer portal with the No. 1 incoming class in hopes of replicating the formula for success Kiffin had at Ole Miss. But growing pains on both sides of the ball in a brutal league could keep the Tigers just outside the 12-team field."Cody Nagel
Growing pains are always a possibility when dealing with plenty of new faces on the roster, but plenty of Kiffin's portal additions have plenty of collegiate experience under their belts. They won't be phased by the spotlight.
The schedule will be tough, as the Tigers open with Clemson, travel to Ole Miss, and host Texas A&M all in the first month of the season. LSU then hosts Alabama and Texas in back-to-back weeks in November and ends the season with consecutive road games at Tennessee and Arkansas. The talent is there for LSU, it's just a matter of making it all come together.