LSU Football Receives Major Prediction Ahead of Lane Kiffin's First Year at the Helm

CBS Sports projects the Tigers to make the College Football Playoff in 2026 as the No. 9 seed, facing off against No. 8 Ohio State in the first round.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers have generated significant buzz this offseason with a new-look roster, coaching staff, and front office. Analysts across the country are beginning to buy into the Tigers, with CBS Sports projecting LSU to make the College Football Playoff as the No. 9 seed, facing off against No. 8 Ohio State in the first round.

Why it matters

LSU's offseason moves, including landing the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class in America, have raised expectations for the program to contend for a national championship in 2026. The Tigers' inclusion in the early College Football Playoff projection further validates the excitement surrounding the team and Kiffin's ability to quickly turn the program around.

The details

According to the CBS Sports projection, Ohio State will take a couple of losses during the regular season, making them the No. 8 seed in the playoff. LSU's schedule, which includes road games against potentially the nation's two best teams, Indiana and Texas, will be a significant challenge, but the Tigers' offseason roster overhaul has positioned them as a top contender.

  • The 2026 college football season is set to kick off in the fall of 2026.

The players

Lane Kiffin

The head coach of the LSU Tigers, known for his innovative offensive schemes and ability to quickly turn around struggling programs.

Ohio State Buckeyes

A perennial powerhouse in college football, the Buckeyes are projected to be one of the top teams in the nation in 2026, despite expected to take a couple of losses during the regular season.

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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, LSU Tigers (LSU Football)

“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, LSU Tigers (LSU Football)

What’s next

As the offseason continues, all eyes will remain on the LSU Tigers as they look to live up to the 'National Championship or bust' expectations heading into the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Lane Kiffin's arrival at LSU has sparked a major turnaround for the program, with the Tigers now being projected as a top contender for the College Football Playoff in 2026. The offseason moves, including landing the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class, have positioned LSU as a team to watch in the upcoming season as they look to bring championship football back to Baton Rouge.