The 2025 college football season is officially in the books, capped off by an Indiana win over Miami. But in the world of college football, the offseason doesn’t mean the action stops - especially not in the SEC. In Baton Rouge, the page has already turned to 2026, and the LSU Tigers are entering a new era with a fresh face at the helm and expectations to match.
After a 7-5 regular season that fell well short of LSU’s lofty standards, the program made a bold move: Brian Kelly is out, and Lane Kiffin is in. It’s a shakeup that signals urgency - and ambition. Kiffin’s arrival isn’t just about a change in leadership; it’s about rebooting the Tigers into a contender, fast.
And so far, the early returns are promising. LSU’s transfer portal class is turning heads, ranked No. 1 in the country by 247 Sports. That’s not just a nice feather in the cap - it’s a signal that Kiffin is wasting no time restocking the cupboard with talent that can win now.
Headlining that haul is quarterback Sam Leavitt, who comes to Baton Rouge with more than just potential - he’s bringing Heisman buzz. According to FanDuel, Leavitt sits at 13-1 odds to win college football’s most prestigious individual award.
That puts him firmly in the national conversation, trailing only a few big names. Texas phenom Arch Manning and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr are currently the co-favorites at 8-1.
The oddsmakers are also buying into the Tigers’ potential as a team. FanDuel has LSU’s over/under win total set at 9.5 games for the 2026 season - a clear jump from last year’s seven-win campaign. That’s not just optimism; it’s a reflection of the talent infusion, the coaching change, and the belief that LSU could be a real threat in the SEC again.
And if things break right? LSU is sitting at 13-1 odds to win the national championship, per DraftKings.
That puts them within striking distance of the sport’s elite. The title game will be played in Las Vegas - and with the way this offseason is shaping up, the Tigers might just be building a roster capable of making that trip west.
There’s still plenty of work to be done. But with Kiffin calling the shots, a top-ranked transfer class, and a quarterback already drawing Heisman hype, LSU’s 2026 campaign is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines in college football. The Tigers are reloading - and the rest of the SEC better take notice.