LSU Basketball Heating Up, While Football Eyes O-Line Reinforcements Through the Portal
After a cold Monday morning in Baton Rouge with no games to recap or preview, LSU fans are still riding high from the men’s basketball team’s emphatic win over SMU. And with basketball momentum building, it’s hard not to wonder: could this finally be the year Matt McMahon gets LSU back to the NCAA Tournament?
It’s a fair question - and one that’s gaining traction for good reason.
LSU Hoops: A Team on the Rise?
McMahon is now in his fourth season at the helm, and while the Tigers haven’t made the Big Dance under his watch just yet, this year’s squad might be his best shot. LSU is sitting at 9-1 on the season, with its only loss coming against a ranked Texas Tech team. That’s not just a solid start - it’s a foundation to build on.
The Tigers made a statement in their bounce-back win over SMU, torching the Mustangs with 62% shooting from the field and putting up 50 points in the paint. That kind of offensive efficiency isn’t just eye-catching - it’s elite.
LSU now ranks No. 13 nationally in field-goal percentage at 51.6%, and they’ve climbed to No. 34 in the latest KenPom rankings. For a program trying to claw its way back into national relevance, those are the kinds of numbers that matter.
And the analytics are starting to reflect that upward trend. According to TeamRankings.com, LSU now has a 50% shot at making the NCAA Tournament - up significantly from just 37% a week ago.
If they can get to 23 total wins, including the SEC Tournament, that probability jumps to 88%. In other words, the path is there.
Now it’s about execution.
SEC play will be the real test - it always is. But this team has shown signs it can hang. The question now is whether they can sustain this level of play when the conference gauntlet begins.
On the Football Side: Portal Season Heating Up, O-Line in Focus
While hoops is trending up, LSU football is deep in roster retooling mode. And with the transfer portal wide open, the Tigers are taking a hard look at where they need help - and it’s a long list.
We’ve already talked about the glaring needs at quarterback and wide receiver. LSU is returning just one scholarship QB and has lost its top three pass-catchers from last season.
The running back room isn’t much better, with only two backs returning. So yeah, the skill positions are thin - but that also means new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and his staff have a clean slate to build something fresh.
But today, let’s shift the focus to the offensive line - a group that returns a good number of players but still feels like it’s in need of a major upgrade.
LSU Offensive Line: Plenty of Bodies, Still Big Questions
The Tigers are set to bring back several linemen with starting experience: Tyree Adams, Weston Davis, Braelin Moore, Paul Mubenga, and DJ Chester. Add in names like Coen Echols, the Bordelon brothers, and promising young talents such as Carius Curne, Solomon Thomas, Khayree Lee, Ory Williams, and Ethan Calloway, and on paper, there's depth.
But depth doesn’t always equal production.
Despite the recruiting accolades, LSU’s offensive line struggled mightily this past season. Run lanes were hard to come by, short-yardage situations often turned into drive-killers, and pass protection was inconsistent at best.
The result? One of the least productive LSU offenses in recent memory.
It’s tough to pinpoint exactly where the breakdown occurred. Was it talent evaluation?
Scheme? Coaching?
Probably a mix of all three. But what’s clear is this: for Kiffin’s offense to click, the line has to be significantly better - and fast.
Portal Priorities: LSU Likely to Add 3-4 Linemen
LSU has already signed 14 high school players in this cycle, but just one offensive lineman - and it’s a good one. Krysten Martinez, a four-star tackle from East Ascension, is the top-rated offensive lineman in Louisiana and ranks as the No. 10 tackle nationally. He’s a foundational piece, but he can’t fix the line on his own.
That’s why LSU is expected to be aggressive in the portal, likely targeting three to four offensive linemen to bolster the unit. Among the names reportedly on LSU’s radar: Jalen Farmer, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman out of Kentucky who played under new LSU offensive line coach Eric Wolford, and Devin Harper from Ole Miss, a Shreveport native who prepped at Calvary Baptist.
Both would bring size, experience, and a much-needed physical presence to a line that struggled to impose its will in 2025.
Eric Wolford Wasting No Time
Speaking of Wolford, the new O-line coach is already making moves on the recruiting trail. Over the weekend, LSU extended an offer to four-star Class of 2027 interior lineman Terrance Smith out of Lansdale Catholic in Pennsylvania - a player Wolford had been recruiting while at Kentucky. Smith is ranked among the top 15 interior linemen in his class, and it’s clear Wolford is laying the groundwork for the future while also addressing immediate needs.
Bottom Line
Whether it’s Matt McMahon’s Tigers making a push for March Madness or Lane Kiffin’s crew rebuilding the offense from the trenches out, there’s plenty of reason for LSU fans to keep their eyes on both courts and fields this winter. Basketball has the look of a team turning the corner, while football is in the thick of roster reshaping - with the offensive line now front and center.
Portal season is just getting started, and LSU’s moves in the coming weeks will go a long way in determining how quickly the football program can reload. As for hoops? If the Tigers keep playing like they did against SMU, March could get a whole lot more interesting in Baton Rouge.