2026 College Football Preview: LSU Tigers

Lane Kiffin inherits an offense with major upside: LSU features a top-10 quarterback in Sam Leavitt, PFF’s No. 6 receiving corps and the nation’s top-ranked tight end in Trey’Dez Green.

Offensive line remains the biggest concern: LSU’s offensive line earned the seventh-worst PFF grade among Power Four units last season despite adding one of college football’s premier pass protectors in Jordan Seaton for 2026.

DJ Pickett is poised for a bigger role: The former five-star cornerback earned a 78.6 PFF grade as a true freshman, tied for ninth among qualified SEC cornerbacks.

LSU endured a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025 despite climbing as high as No. 3 in the AP poll. The struggles led to Brian Kelly’s dismissal midway through his fourth season as head coach.

The Tigers responded with one of the biggest coaching hires in recent years, bringing Lane Kiffin over from Ole Miss. Kiffin led the Rebels to three consecutive 10-win seasons, the first such stretch in program history. LSU then emerged as one of the biggest winners of the transfer portal, giving Kiffin a roster capable of immediately competing near the top of the SEC.

Notable Transfer Portal Additions

QB Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
OT Jordan Seaton (Colorado)
ED Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss)
WR Jayce Brown (Kansas State)
WR Jackson Harris (Hawaii)

Notable Transfer Portal Losses

C DJ Chester (Mississippi State)
OG Paul Mubenga (Nebraska)
OT Tyree Adams (Texas A&M)
WR Kyle Parker (Ohio State)
S Jardin Gilbert (Mississippi State)

Biggest strength: Offense with a ton of potential

Any offense with Lane Kiffin calling the shots has the potential to rank among the best in the country, especially one with this much talent. Sam Leavitt is a top-10 quarterback entering 2026 and looking for a major bounce-back season.

LSU also boasts our No. 6 receiving corps, headlined by the nation’s top-ranked tight end in Trey’Dez Green. The Tigers are strong at running back and along the offensive line, as well, with projected top-10 pick Jordan Seaton anchoring the unit.

Biggest question mark: Will we see a turnaround on the offensive line?

LSU’s offensive line collapsed last season, struggling both to protect Garrett Nussmeier and create running lanes. The unit earned the seventh-worst PFF grade among Power Four offensive lines.

Center Braelin Moore and right tackle Weston Davis return, but the headline addition is Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton. One of the premier pass protectors in college football, Seaton should provide an immediate upgrade. Still, his arrival alone may not be enough to alleviate LSU’s concerns in the run game.

Quarterback: Sam Leavitt

After a breakout 2024 season in which he led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff, Leavitt regressed last year, too often relying on his athleticism to carry the Sun Devils. His fundamentals suffered as a result, contributing to a 68.3% adjusted completion rate that ranked well below the national average.

Leavitt remains an extremely gifted quarterback, and if Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. can improve his footwork and decision-making, he could be poised for a major bounce-back season.

Offensive Player Spotlight: OT Jordan Seaton

Seaton is our No. 5 tackle in the country after transferring to LSU following two seasons as Colorado’s starting left tackle. The former five-star recruit is arguably the best pass protector returning to college football. His 84.8 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets in 2025 ranked third nationally and first among returning tackles.

The run game remains his biggest weakness. Seaton’s 52.0 PFF run-blocking grade ranked 263rd among 310 qualifying tackles last season. Still, his movement skills and polish in pass protection give him the potential to become a top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Defensive Player Spotlight: CB DJ Pickett

Even in a loaded LSU secondary, Pickett played more than 500 snaps as a true freshman and performed at a high level. The 6-foot-4 former five-star recruit was the No. 2 cornerback in the 2025 recruiting class, and his 78.6 PFF grade tied for ninth among qualified SEC cornerbacks last season.

Pickett recorded three interceptions and two pass breakups while also performing well in run defense. With Mansoor Delane gone, he is primed to emerge as the star of LSU’s secondary.

Bottom Line

LSU has the talent to compete for a national championship in 2026. If the Tigers’ key additions deliver and their biggest question marks are resolved, they have the ceiling to contend immediately.