It’s wild to think it’s been six years since LSU last hoisted a national championship trophy. That 2019-20 season - the Joe Burrow-led blitzkrieg through college football - feels like yesterday for Tiger fans.
Back then, LSU wasn’t just winning; they were rewriting what dominance looked like. Burrow was dropping dimes to Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was slicing through defenses, and Ed Orgeron’s gravelly “Geaux Tigers” echoed through every corner of Louisiana.
It felt like the start of something lasting.
But what came next? Anything but a dynasty.
After that perfect 15-0 season, the Tigers stumbled. Orgeron’s program, once the envy of the sport, unraveled quickly.
Over the next two years, LSU went a middling 11-11. The magic was gone, and so was Coach O by the end of 2021.
Enter Brian Kelly.
When LSU brought in Kelly from Notre Dame, the message was clear: it was time to win - and win big. The resume was impressive.
The fit? Not so much.
From the awkward Southern accent introduction to baffling in-game decisions, Kelly’s time in Baton Rouge never quite clicked. His record - 34-14 - looks solid on paper.
But in the SEC, especially at a place like LSU, it’s about more than wins and losses. It's about championships.
And after a 49-25 home drubbing at the hands of Texas A&M in October 2025, patience officially ran out. LSU moved on.
Now, the Tigers are turning the page - and they’ve done it with a bang.
Lane Kiffin is in town.
Yes, that Lane Kiffin - the offensive mastermind with a knack for fireworks and a history of zigging when others zag. LSU pulled off one of the offseason’s biggest shockers, luring Kiffin away from SEC West rival Ole Miss.
It’s a bold move. It’s a risky move.
And it might just be the perfect one.
Kiffin hasn’t even coached a spring practice yet, but the energy around the program has already shifted. The recruiting trail?
On fire. LSU’s 2026 class - a blend of high school talent and transfer portal additions - currently sits atop the national rankings, per 247Sports.
Let’s break it down: 40 transfers. 17 true freshmen. Five five-star recruits.
Twenty-one four-stars. That’s not just a class - that’s a roster overhaul.
And it’s headlined by major names: defensive lineman Richard Anderson, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, and quarterback Sam Leavitt, the top QB in the portal.
Kiffin and his staff didn’t just reload - they rebuilt the trenches, retooled the receiver room, and secured a quarterback who can lead from day one. It’s the kind of transformation that doesn’t usually happen overnight. But in Baton Rouge, it just did.
This feels like the beginning of something big. Think Curt Cignetti-level turnaround - fast, focused, and fierce.
LSU isn’t just aiming to get back to the playoff. They’re positioning themselves to be a real threat once they get there.
So the question isn’t whether Kiffin can bring LSU back to relevance. He already has.
The real question now: Can he finish the job and bring another title back to Death Valley?
The road to the promised land is never easy in the SEC, but if this offseason is any indication, LSU isn’t just back in the conversation - they might be ready to lead it.