The first AP Top 25 of the preseason gave LSU an early national snapshot, and it put the Tigers at No. 11 heading into Lane Kiffin’s first year in Baton Rouge.
That ranking makes LSU the sixth-highest team in the SEC, sitting behind Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. The part that stands out, though, is how quickly the Tigers will get tested against that group. LSU is slated to face four of those five SEC teams during the regular season.
The schedule is loaded with ranked matchups, even if the league slate is being described as one of the more manageable ones in the conference. LSU is set to play five ranked opponents, and ESPN’s Football Power Index has the Tigers with the 10th most difficult schedule in the SEC while also ranking it 10th nationally in strength of schedule.
The season opens with unranked Clemson before Louisiana Tech comes next. After that, the pressure ramps up fast as LSU begins SEC play with Kiffin’s return to Oxford for a ranked meeting with Ole Miss. Texas A&M is next on the list, and that game will also come with ranked stakes when the Aggies visit Baton Rouge.
November brings another heavy stretch, with LSU hosting Alabama and Texas in back-to-back weeks before closing out that run by traveling to Knoxville to face Tennessee.
Most kickoff times are still to be announced, but two of the biggest early games already have their slots. LSU’s opener against Clemson and the road trip to Ole Miss are both set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge arrives with major expectations attached, and LSU backed that up in the offseason by spending heavily on the roster. The Tigers reportedly built one of the most expensive teams in the sport, with the total said to exceed $40 million.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Is Suddenly Facing An LSU Fan Backlash
Jayden Daniels is back in the middle of an LSU conversation he probably would rather leave behind. The former Tigers star, now with the Washington Commanders, is in a dispute with LSU over the use of his name, image and likeness, and the issue has drawn extra attention because the school allowed another player to wear his former jersey number.
The reaction has not been quiet, either. ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum publicly criticized Daniels response and said the quarterback has lost support within LSU Nation, adding a sharper edge to what had already become a sensitive topic for fans who still view Daniels as one of the programs recent standard-bearers. For now, Daniels is preparing for his first NFL season opener with Washington against the Eagles on Sept. 13, even as the LSU chatter continues to linger. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Nussmeier Gives LSU Fans Their First Real NFL Look
Garrett Nussmeiers first NFL preseason outing gave LSU fans a familiar face to track on a new stage, even if it came in a Kansas City Chiefs loss. The former Tigers quarterback completed 13 of 19 passes for 98 yards and was sacked twice, offering a steady if unspectacular glimpse of how his game is translating after a college career that made him one of the more productive passers in program history.
Selected 249th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Nussmeier arrived in the league after throwing for 7,699 yards and 52 touchdowns at LSU, though his final college season was shortened by injury before it ran its course. Preseason games do not settle much, but for a quarterback trying to carve out a place in the pros, every snap matters and every early impression can shape the conversation around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Is Already Raising The Standard At LSU Camp
Ed Orgerons return to LSU football has already added a familiar edge to fall camp, where the veteran coach is back in an assistant role working on defense and recruiting under Lane Kiffin. His presence has been felt quickly around the program, with players noticing the energy and authority he brings back to practice as the Tigers try to sharpen up before the season.
Orgeron has been spending time with a defensive line group that includes both transfers and freshmen, giving him a chance to set the tone with players who are still learning what it takes to perform at LSU. For a program that has long valued toughness and development in the trenches, his influence gives camp an unmistakable old-school weight while the bigger question is how far that standard can carry once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]