LSU’s future non-conference slate got a little clearer on Friday, with the program adding four new games across the next several seasons.
The Tigers announced matchups with Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern and Tulane, filling out pieces of the schedule as LSU continues to map out the years ahead. The new dates are set for Aug. 28, 2027 against Northwestern State; Aug. 26, 2028 against Louisiana-Monroe; Sept. 9, 2028 against Southern; and Aug. 31, 2030 against Tulane.
That gives LSU a third non-conference game in 2027, after already lining up meetings with Houston and UTSA. In 2028, the Tigers now have their full non-SEC slate in place, with SMU joining Louisiana-Monroe and Southern on the schedule.
The 2030 addition is the one that stands out most on paper. LSU already has a road game scheduled at Arizona State that season, and Tulane brings another notable Group of 5 opponent into the mix. Of course, those games are still far down the road, and LSU could always make changes before then.
There will be some who look at the schedule and wonder about the lack of elite non-conference opponents. But LSU appears to be following the same practical approach that Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and others have talked about: trim the risk outside the SEC and stack wins wherever possible. With the College Football Playoff committee unlikely to reward a three-loss team no matter how strong the wins are, that thinking has started to shape how top programs build their slates.
That reality fits the pressure around Baton Rouge, too. Lane Kiffin’s era is set to begin in 2026, and the expectations around the program are already championship-or-bust. In that kind of environment, every decision that helps LSU get to the CFP matters.
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The move also carries a little extra edge for LSU fans because Sloans next big stage comes against his old program on October 10. Kentucky believes it has added a coach who can connect with players and make an immediate imprint, and portal quarterback Kenny Minchey has already pointed to Sloan as one of the main reasons he landed with the Wildcats. For Sloan, though, the real test will be whether that buzz turns into production against the very team that moved on from him after last season's offensive slump. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Took Another Painful Recruiting Hit In The Secondary
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For LSU, the miss is part of a broader race that is still very much in motion, even if the Tigers have already added some help in the defensive backfield. Georgias class keeps piling up blue-chip talent, and Cole becomes its lone defensive back commitment so far, a reminder that the early recruiting map can shift quickly as the cycle moves deeper. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Finally Gets A Louisiana Rivalry Back Fans Never Wanted Gone
A familiar in-state matchup is finally back on the calendar, with LSU and Tulane set to meet again in 2030 after a 21-year break. The game will be played at Tiger Stadium, bringing one of Louisiana footballs oldest rivalries back into the spotlight after a long absence.
The series has been heavily tilted LSUs way over the years, with the Tigers leading 69-22-7 and riding an 18-game winning streak. The last time these teams met was in 2009, when LSU rolled to a 42-0 win, but the return of the rivalry still adds a little extra juice to the future schedule. [Read more 🡒]