ESPN’s Alex Scarborough is coming around on LSU at exactly the right time.
After back-to-back blowout wins over Mississippi State and Auburn, Scarborough made the Tigers’ case as the SEC’s top two-loss team in his Week 8 college football takeaways. LSU has outscored those two opponents 69-17, and that stretch was enough to get Scarborough leaning hard in the Tigers’ direction.
The defense earned plenty of credit. Scarborough pointed to Blake Baker’s group for completely shutting down Byrum Brown and Auburn’s ground game, while also singling out Princewill Umanmielen as “a one-man wrecking crew off the edge” with eight sacks on the season. He also noted that if Whit Weeks returns, the linebacker room only gets stronger.
Still, it was the offense that really pushed LSU over the top for Scarborough. The return of Trey’Dez Green made an impact against Auburn, not just because of the touchdown catch, but because of the way his presence changed the coverage picture for everyone else. Jackson Harris then stepped into the spotlight as a true No. 1 option, finishing with nine catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
Scarborough also highlighted Sam Leavitt’s play, describing him as “off-the-charts efficient” while noting that he looks more comfortable both running and throwing. He said Leavitt seems to have settled into the offense and gotten on the same page with coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. The balance piece, in Scarborough’s view, is Dilin Jones, whose running gives the offense another steady layer.
Kiffin had wanted the offense to arrive sooner, but Scarborough said the timing now feels right. LSU enters its bye week before a difficult three-game run against Alabama, Texas and Tennessee, and Scarborough’s view is that the roster is starting to come together just as the schedule gets tougher. As Kiffin put it, “This is where we planned on being.”
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has A Live R.J. Luis Roster Decision
R.J. Luis has suddenly become a live roster issue for LSU, turning what looked like a straightforward eligibility matter into a legal fight with real stakes for the Tigers. The former St. Johns standout signed two NBA contracts in 2025, and LSU coach Will Wade has already said the program will not roster him because of SEC rules that bar players with professional contracts from returning to college play.
Luis and his lawyers have taken the dispute to court, filing suit against the NCAA, LSU and the SEC. A judge has temporarily allowed him to play for now, but the case is far from settled, with a hearing set for Nov. 13, 2026, and LSU still waiting for a final answer on whether one of its most notable additions can actually suit up. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Is Starting To Look Like The SEC Team Nobody Wants
LSUs latest stretch has helped turn the Tigers into one of the most difficult matchups in the SEC, and even former Georgia defender and current analyst David Pollack has taken notice. What stands out most is how complete the group has looked: the offense has found a balanced identity, the passing game has been productive, and the run defense has been stout enough to keep opponents from dictating terms. With players like Jackson Harris and Trey'Dez Green adding to that formula, LSU has put together a profile that looks a lot more threatening than just another good conference team.
At 6-2, the Tigers have positioned themselves in the playoff conversation, but the next run of games will say plenty about whether that buzz is real. Alabama, Texas and Tennessee are all still ahead, and the path to the College Football Playoff is likely to be decided in that kind of company. For LSU, the question is no longer whether it has talent or balance, but whether it can keep that edge when the schedule turns against ranked opponents. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Hate What Happened To This Alabama Showdown
The SEC has locked in LSUs Nov. 7 game against Alabama for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ABC, a choice that immediately changed the feel of one of the leagues biggest rivalry weekends. It will be the first afternoon meeting between the programs in Baton Rouge since 2010, a notable shift for a series that so often feels bigger and louder under the lights.
There is also a longer-term sting for LSU fans beyond the start time. This will be the final annual meeting before the SECs revised scheduling rotation breaks up the rivalry, and the two teams will not meet again in Baton Rouge until at least 2030. For a fan base that prefers the atmosphere of a night game against Alabama, the afternoon slot only adds to the frustration around a matchup that already carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]