Lane Kiffin Era Set to Begin as LSU Unveils 2026 Spring Football Schedule
BATON ROUGE - The countdown to a new chapter in LSU football is officially on. With Lane Kiffin now at the helm, the Tigers have announced their spring practice schedule, giving fans and analysts alike a first look at how the program is beginning to take shape under its new leadership.
LSU will open spring drills on March 24, with practices set to run through April 24. The team will hit the field every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during that stretch, with the final week shifting slightly - closing out on a Friday instead of Saturday. That adds up to 15 practices, the maximum allowed by NCAA rules during the spring period.
One notable omission? There's no spring game listed on the schedule - at least not yet.
While some programs use that final practice as a public showcase, LSU has opted to keep things under wraps for now. Whether that changes remains to be seen, but for now, it’s all about the work behind closed doors.
This spring carries a little more weight than usual in Baton Rouge. It’s not just the start of Kiffin’s tenure - it’s the beginning of what could be a significant transformation for the program.
The roster has undergone a massive overhaul. Over 40 players have departed - some to graduation, others via the transfer portal.
In their place? A fresh group of 40-plus newcomers, including 16 freshmen and a wave of transfers brought in to reshape the identity of this team.
Most of those freshmen are already on campus and will take part in spring drills, giving Kiffin and his staff a valuable head start on evaluation and development. That early exposure can be critical, especially with so many new faces in the building and a new system being installed on both sides of the ball.
But while the spring will offer plenty of insight into how Kiffin is molding this team, it won’t provide the full picture - at least not yet. Some key players won’t be participating, including quarterback Sam Leavitt, the transfer from Arizona State.
Leavitt is still on the mend after undergoing foot surgery for a Lisfranc injury he suffered last season. Kiffin confirmed earlier this month that Leavitt won’t be healthy enough for full participation this spring, meaning the quarterback competition - or at least his part in it - will have to wait until the summer.
Still, there’s no shortage of intrigue. With Kiffin’s reputation for offensive creativity and his ability to maximize quarterback play, all eyes will be on how quickly LSU’s new-look roster adapts to his system. The Tigers open the 2026 season on September 5 at home against Clemson, a marquee matchup that offers little room for a slow start.
Until then, these spring practices will serve as the first real glimpse into the foundation Kiffin is laying. It’s a new era in Baton Rouge - and it officially begins March 24.