LSU’s path to the College Football Playoff got a lot clearer on paper Tuesday night - and a lot tougher on the field this weekend.
The Tigers landed at No. 14 in the first CFP rankings of the 2026 season, putting Lane Kiffin’s team just outside the 12-team bracket as it heads into a massive SEC matchup with No. 5 Alabama on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
LSU is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC, and the timing of this ranking gives the Tigers a real chance to move up fast. Alabama is the highest-ranked opponent left on LSU’s schedule, which means Saturday carries serious weight for the Tigers’ postseason hopes.
The rankings were loaded with SEC teams near the top. Georgia checked in at No.
2, Alabama at No. 5, Kentucky at No. 6 and Ole Miss at No. 10, giving the league five teams in the top 10.
Tennessee came in at No. 13, LSU at No. 14 and Missouri at No.
- Texas Tech was the Big 12 representative at No.
Miami opened at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Utah and Indiana. Alabama completed the top five.
LSU arrives at this point on a two-game win streak, coming off a 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State and a 38-17 road win at Auburn. Its two losses were a 32-24 defeat to Ole Miss and a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky.
The Tigers still have a chance to reshape their résumé over the final month. After Alabama, LSU hosts No.
7 Texas on November 14, then finishes the regular season with road trips to No. 13 Tennessee and Arkansas.
With three of the last four opponents ranked in the top 13, the Tigers have plenty of chances to impress - but another setback would make the playoff climb much steeper.
Saturday’s game against Alabama is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
College Football Playoff Top 25 - November 3, 2026
- Miami
- Georgia
- Utah
- Indiana
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Texas
- UCLA
- BYU
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- LSU
- Texas Tech
- Wake Forest
- Houston
- Missouri
- Iowa
- USC
- South Carolina
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Florida
- Boise State
In Other News...
LSU Just Got A Stark Reminder About SEC Eligibility Rules
Missouri is dealing with an eligibility issue that doubles as a warning shot for the rest of the SEC. Guard CJ Gunn has been ruled ineligible by the conference after signing a professional contract and receiving payment to play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, a move that runs afoul of the leagues rule on college basketball players who turn pro after enrolling.
Coach Dennis Gates confirmed the ruling and said there is no appeal, leaving Missouri without a path to get Gunn back on the floor through conference channels. The timing also shuts the door on the G League draft, a reminder that these eligibility questions can quickly spill beyond one roster and into a much wider set of consequences for teams trying to navigate the modern college game. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Will Notice What Alabama Is Worried About In Death Valley
Keelon Russells development has become part of the conversation in Tuscaloosa at exactly the wrong time for Alabama, with a trip to Death Valley looming and Kalen DeBoer trying to keep his young quarterback on track. DeBoer has leaned into the idea that Russell has to keep learning from past experiences while staying composed once the game starts, a reminder that Alabama is still sorting through some of the same growing pains that tend to show up when the pressure rises.
For LSU fans, that is the kind of worry worth noting because it speaks to what Alabama thinks could swing a marquee SEC showdown. The Tigers get the Crimson Tide at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and the buildup already suggests the visitors know they will need steadiness from Russell if they want to handle the noise, the stage and the challenge that comes with playing in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Be Getting An Important Frontcourt Boost Sooner Than Expected
LSUs frontcourt could get a welcome boost sooner than expected, with Noa Morro now trending toward a return as early as next week. Kim Mulkey said the senior has been back on the floor in practice and taking part in pregame warm-ups, a notable step for a player who had surgery in early September to address a stress fracture.
Morro brings a veteran presence to the Tigers after a career that included professional experience in Spain and international play for Spanish national teams before arriving in Baton Rouge. For LSU, getting her back into the mix would add depth and experience inside at a time when every healthy body matters, and the next step will be seeing how quickly she can work back into game shape once she is cleared. [Read more 🡒]