Lane Kiffin is entering his first season as the head football coach at LSU.
In the wake of the Tigers’ worst season since Ed Orgeron’s final year in 2021, LSU looks to revive Death Valley under new head coach Lane Kiffin.
After spending the previous seasons leading Ole Miss, Kiffin now takes over a program with championship expectations and one of the most talented rosters in the country. LSU enters 2026 with plenty to prove after finishing No. 9 in the SEC with a 5.34 BiteScore the year prior.
Kiffin’s arrival brings a new offensive identity to Death Valley.
Expect LSU’s offense to play faster, create more explosive plays and lean heavily on the passing game while still maintaining balance on the ground. This aggressive style is exactly what Kiffin hopes to bring to the Tigers, creating an offense that is consistent from practice throughout game day.
The Tigers were also extremely aggressive in the transfer portal.
During his LSU introductory press conference, Kiffin made his expectations clear: “We’re going to sign the best players that we can.”
The Tigers backed that up by adding Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt paired with several talented receivers, including Jackson Harris from Hawaii, Tre’ Brown from Old Dominion, Jayce Brown from Kansas State and Eugene Wilson III from Florida.
Harris enters Baton Rouge as a first-team All-Mountain West selection after recording 12 receiving touchdowns, while Wilson III brings proven production after a career-high 107 receptions at Florida. These additions should give Kiffin plenty of weapons as he begins rebuilding the LSU offense.
Defensive coordinator Blake Baker is back for his second season and is looking to build on a strong 2025 campaign. With a talented group returning, LSU has the potential to be one of the SEC’s top defenses.
Baker also added more experience through the portal with safety Ty Benefield from Boise State and defensive tackle Stephiylan Green from Clemson. With the combination of athleticism, depth and veteran leadership, LSU has the pieces to potentially finish inside the top 15 nationally on defense.
The schedule, however, will provide a major challenge for Kiffin in his first season.
The Tigers will face some of the SEC’s top programs, including Clemson, Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M and rival Ole Miss. There is little room for error, but LSU has enough talent on both sides of the ball to compete at the highest level.
We’re taking the over on a 7.5 win total. A 9-3 record feels like a realistic expectation for the Tigers, and if Kiffin can quickly implement his system, LSU should have a good chance to return to the College Football Playoff.
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