LSU’s place in the US LBM Coaches Poll took a small hit in Week 9, even though the Tigers didn’t play.
Lane Kiffin’s team dropped two spots to No. 15 after sitting at No. 13 last week. Texas Tech and Wake Forest moved ahead of LSU, a reminder that the middle of the rankings is crowded and changes fast from week to week.
The poll drop doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story, though. ESPN’s SP+ power ratings have LSU all the way up at No. 4 nationally, but the Tigers’ poll position is being shaped by what’s on the résumé. Without a signature win, the committee of coaches has kept LSU in the middle tier for now.
That could change quickly. LSU gets its shot at a statement victory on Saturday when No.
9 Alabama comes to Death Valley. Both teams are 6-2, and the matchup carries real weight for LSU’s College Football Playoff hopes.
FanDuel lists LSU as a 4.5-point favorite against Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama team.
At the top of the Coaches Poll, Miami holds the No. 1 spot, followed by Georgia, Indiana, Utah and UCLA. Alabama sits at No. 9, while Ohio State tumbled to No. 10 after previously being ranked No. 2.
The full top 25 also includes Texas at No. 11, Ole Miss at No.
12, Texas Tech at No. 13, Wake Forest at No. 14 and LSU at No.
- Tennessee, USC, Houston, Missouri, Iowa, Boise State, Arizona, Northwestern, SMU and New Mexico round out the rest of the poll.
In Other News...
LSU Just Changed A Game Day Tradition Before Alabama Weekend
LSU is tightening its game day playbook ahead of the Alabama weekend, and the changes go well beyond what happens between the lines. University officials announced new safety measures aimed at student gatherings after recent incidents involving uncontrolled crowds and disruptive behavior on campus, a sign that the school is trying to get ahead of the kind of chaos that can spill over when one of the seasons biggest home dates arrives.
The new policy includes bans on unauthorized large events, mandatory shutdowns of student tailgates before kickoff and postgame restrictions, all part of an effort to keep campus safer and more orderly on football Saturdays. LSU also is creating a Football Tailgating Steering Committee to oversee the process, underscoring how seriously the school is treating the push to preserve a family-friendly atmosphere around Tiger Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Got An Early Reality Check For LSU Showdown
The first betting line for LSUs Week 10 trip to Alabama already says plenty about how this matchup is being viewed heading into the 2026 college football season. LSU opened as a 4-point favorite in a game that figures to carry real weight in both the SEC race and the College Football Playoff picture, with both teams ranked and carrying similar records into a meeting that comes after bye weeks.
For Alabama, it is an early reminder that the script around this rivalry may be shifting, even if the history still leans heavily in its favor. The Crimson Tide own a 58-27-5 edge all-time and have won the last three meetings, but the market is treating this one like a true toss-up with LSU holding the early edge, which only adds another layer to a game that already feels like one of the leagues biggest measuring sticks. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Landed An Elite Big With Huge Long Term Upside
LSUs 2027 recruiting class got another major boost with the commitment of Xavier Young, a five-star big who has reclassified from the 2028 class. The move gives the Tigers an even more impressive foundation in a cycle that is already drawing attention, and it comes with the kind of long-term upside programs build around when they land an elite frontcourt prospect this early.
Young pointed to his trust in LSUs coaching staff and the chance to develop sooner against stronger competition as key parts of his decision. For the Tigers, it is another sign that the pitch is resonating with top talent, and another reason this class is starting to look like one that could shape the programs future well beyond the next season. [Read more 🡒]