LSU Football Receives Stunning Prediction Amid Lane Kiffin's Historic First Offseason

CBS Sports believes the LSU Tigers will have one of the most explosive offenses in college football this fall.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 7:15am

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The Lane Kiffin era is off to a strong start in Baton Rouge with LSU's new head coach quickly making his presence felt after accepting the job on Nov. 30. Kiffin has focused on retooling the roster via the NCAA Transfer Portal, adding the No. 1 quarterback, No. 1 offensive lineman, and No. 1 EDGE, along with nine Top-100 players. CBS Sports now believes the Tigers will have one of the most explosive offenses in college football this fall.

Why it matters

Kiffin's aggressive approach to rebuilding the LSU roster through the transfer portal has raised expectations for the Tigers, who are looking to bounce back after an uneven 2025 season. The team's ability to quickly mesh a large influx of new talent will be crucial to their success in Kiffin's first year.

The details

LSU added over 40 newcomers via the transfer portal, including former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, USC signal-caller Husan Longstreet, and 12 new wide receivers. The offensive line also projects as a major strength, anchored by five-star Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton. Tight end Trey'Dez Green returns as a proven playmaker, and running back Harlem Berry, the No. 1 recruit in 2025, opted to remain with the program.

  • Kiffin accepted the LSU head coaching job on Nov. 30.
  • Spring Camp for LSU is less than five weeks away.

The players

Lane Kiffin

The new head coach of the LSU Tigers, who has quickly made his presence felt in Baton Rouge.

Sam Leavitt

The former Arizona State quarterback who has joined the LSU roster via the transfer portal.

Husan Longstreet

The former USC signal-caller who has also joined the LSU roster via the transfer portal.

Jordan Seaton

The five-star offensive lineman from Colorado who has transferred to LSU.

Trey'Dez Green

The returning tight end who is a proven playmaker for the Tigers.

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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

“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

What’s next

Spring Camp for LSU is less than five weeks away as the Tigers look to put the puzzle pieces together with over 60 newcomers joining the roster.

The takeaway

Kiffin's aggressive approach to rebuilding the LSU roster through the transfer portal has raised expectations for the Tigers, who are looking to bounce back after an uneven 2025 season. The team's ability to quickly mesh a large influx of new talent will be crucial to their success in Kiffin's first year.