ESPN’s Football Power Index has LSU sitting in a brutal spot heading into 2026.
The Tigers landed at No. 11 in FPI’s rankings of the toughest college football schedules for the upcoming season, a list that underscores just how crowded the SEC’s weekly grind is. In fact, 16 SEC teams made the Top 25, with Arkansas taking the No. 1 spot overall.
Right behind the Razorbacks were Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky and Ole Miss. Mississippi State checked in at No.
6, Florida at No. 7, and Texas A&M rounded out the top 10 before LSU appeared at No. 11.
The rest of the top 25 broke down like this: Missouri at No. 12, Auburn at No.
13, Tennessee at No. 14, Alabama at No.
15, Michigan at No. 16, Northwestern at No.
17, Vanderbilt at No. 18, USC at No.
19, Georgia at No. 20, Nebraska at No.
21, Florida State at No. 22, Purdue at No.
23, Boston College at No. 24 and Washington at No. 25.
LSU’s 2026 slate helps explain the ranking. The Tigers open Sept. 5 at home against Clemson at 6:30 pm on ABC, then host Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12 at 6:30 pm on SECN+.
Ole Miss comes to Baton Rouge on Sept. 19 for a 6:30 pm ABC matchup before LSU hosts Texas A&M on Sept. 26.
The schedule keeps rolling with McNeese State on Oct. 3, then a trip to Kentucky on Oct. 10.
Mississippi State visits on Oct. 17, Auburn hosts LSU on Oct. 24, and Alabama comes to town on Nov.
From there, LSU gets Texas at home on Nov. 14, travels to Tennessee on Nov. 21, and closes the regular season at Arkansas on Nov. 28.
In Other News...
Marcus Spears Son Just Delivered A Tough Recruiting Blow To LSU
Marcus Spears Jr. has been on the radar as one of the most intriguing young prospects in the country, a 6-foot-10 forward with the kind of two-way skill set that makes programs circle early and often. Originally part of the 2027 class, he has already built a reputation as a high-end talent from Texas, and his move to join Texas gives the Longhorns a major addition before he even reaches the usual point in his recruiting timeline.
For LSU, the sting is obvious because Spears Jr. carries a name that resonates strongly in Baton Rouge, where his father was a national champion and later became a prominent college football voice. The family ties make this one feel bigger than a standard recruiting miss, especially with his sister already at Texas, and his decision leaves the Tigers watching a player they had reason to believe could have been part of their future. [Read more 🡒]
The LSU Coach Who Could Make Or Break Kiffins New Era
Lane Kiffins first LSU staff is starting to take shape for 2026, and one of the more important hires is a familiar face from his past stops. Associate head coach and running backs coach Kevin Smith is back alongside Kiffin after working with him at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss, bringing a track record of helping build productive ground games and develop backs into featured pieces of the offense.
That matters in Baton Rouge because LSU is not starting from scratch at running back. Harlem Berry and Caden Durham are set to be part of the mix as the Tigers get ready for next season, and Smiths job will be to help shape that room as Kiffin begins putting his own stamp on the program. The ceiling of this era will depend on a lot of moving parts, but how quickly LSUs run game comes together could end up being one of the early indicators. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Anding's Commitment Just Changed LSU's Recruiting Priorities
Jayden Andings commitment gave LSU another useful piece in its 2026 class, and it also sharpened the programs next recruiting task. Under first-year coach Lane Kiffin, the Tigers already sit with a top-10 group, but the work now is less about adding volume and more about protecting the commitments they have while keeping momentum with the states best prospects.
That means LSU is juggling several fronts at once, from holding on to tight end Ahmad Hudson to staying in the mix for high-end targets such as Easton Royal, Jalen Brewster, Anthony Sweeney and Julian McDonald. Andings pledge may have helped stabilize the class, but it also seems to have pushed the Tigers deeper into flip mode, where every conversation matters and the next move could shape how competitive this group looks by the time signing day arrives. [Read more 🡒]