LSU Football, Oregon, Notre Dame Emerge as Teams in 'Way-Too-Early' CFP Predictions

Expectations are rising for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers heading into the 2026 season after assembling the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class in America.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 3:31pm

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Expectations are rising for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers heading into the 2026 season after assembling the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class in America alongside a new-look coaching staff. Once Kiffin arrived in Baton Rouge, LSU immediately entered the College Football Playoff conversation with new leadership in the picture. CBS Sports has revealed their "Way-Too-Early" College Football Playoff predictions with the LSU Tigers firmly in the conversation after Kiffin joined the program last fall.

Why it matters

LSU's expectations are rising. Anything short of reaching the College Football Playoff would be a failure for the program after putting significant resources into the program during the offseason in order to assemble the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class in America.

The details

Lane Kiffin wanted this job and no coach in the SEC faces more immediate pressure at his new job in 2026. For the second straight offseason, the program's biggest donors went all-in to fund a massive transfer portal haul that includes the top quarterback, offensive tackle and edge rusher. Anything short of a playoff appearance will be a failure no matter how you slice it, especially after Kiffin did more with less at Ole Miss.

  • Kiffin joined the LSU program last fall.

The players

Lane Kiffin

The new head coach of the LSU Tigers football team, who previously had success at Ole Miss.

Trinidad Chambliss

The quarterback at Ole Miss, who may not be able to play next season due to an appeal.

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What they’re saying

“This place is built for championships with championship expectations. We understand that, but as an elite competitor, that's exactly what you want, and that's why we're here.”

— Lane Kiffin, Head Coach

“I know that we have, with the passion of LSU family and our LSU players, that we have everything to bring championship football back to LSU.”

— Lane Kiffin, Head Coach

“It's time for LSU to take its place back as the best program in all of college football. … I'm uniquely prepared at 50 years old for this job to have been so many places, done good things, made a lot of mistakes and made them really early on.”

— Lane Kiffin, Head Coach

“Lane Kiffin wanted this. No coach in the SEC faces more immediate pressure at his new job in 2026. For the second straight offseason, the program's biggest donors went all-in to fund a massive transfer portal haul that includes the top quarterback, offensive tackle and edge rusher.”

— Corey Barber

“We have a lot of expectations for them. They need to produce. I told them today. I told the staff yesterday and I told the players today. You guys may have these salaries. Don't sit around and think, 'Okay, well, you have this salary for this coming year because of what you did before.' Because you won this before, you were this good player before, or you coached these players in the position last year.”

— Lane Kiffin, Head Coach

What’s next

Unless quarterback Trinidad Chambliss wins his appeal, Ole Miss is going to suffer some regression next season.

The takeaway

LSU has put significant resources into building a championship-caliber roster through the transfer portal, and anything short of a College Football Playoff appearance will be considered a failure for the program under new head coach Lane Kiffin.