We don’t know exactly what LSU’s roster looks like for 2026-27, but we know who the opponents will be.
LSU’s schedule was released on Monday, and it’s highlighted by a pair of big-time non-conference matchups and a gauntlet of proven SEC programs on the front end of the league slate.
Some August rulings on international and fifth-year college players will determine what LSU’s personnel looks like, but strength of schedule won’t be an issue.
PRE-CONFERENCE POWER
We’ve known for a few weeks that LSU would play Gonzaga in Spokane and Houston at Toyota Center in the city. Those two programs can be counted on to win 30 games nearly every season. Houston has done it five straight years. Gonzaga has done it seven of the last 10. Word is that the Tigers and Zags may be a 7:00 pacific, 9:00 central game that would potentially make the second half watchable for those locked in on LSU-Texas in Tiger Stadium that day.
Queens, Hofstra and High Point all made the NCAA Tournament last year and appear on the schedule. Wade loves to find mid-majors who win a ton of games. Roster turnover is more significant now than it was in Wade’s first stint in Baton Rouge, but he’s scheduling philosophy remains committed to finding teams to helps LSU’s resume numbers.
Wake Forest will come to Baton Rouge. The Deacons were 7-11 in ACC play last year.
JARRING JANUARY
In the portal era, projecting from one year to the next can be tough. That said, some SEC programs have earned the benefit of the doubt, and LSU will see most of them in January after the South Carolina opener in the PMAC.
Games 2-9 in SEC play are going to be a flurry of haymakers.
@ Alabama
TENNESSEE
@ Kentucky
@ Texas A&M
TEXAS
AUBURN
@ Arkansas
@ Georgia
Nate Oats and Rick Barnes have built two of the best programs in the conference at Alabama and Tennessee. Kentucky spent huge on its roster again. So did John Calipari and Arkansas. Bucky McMillain’s Texas A&M team is a trendy offseason pick, and that game is on the road.
Texas has the top ranked recruiting/transfer class in the nation according to 247sports, and Auburn still has Tahaad Pettiford in the backcourt though Steven Pearl didn’t get the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in his first year.
The Georgia game is on the road.
FEBRUARY FINISH
If LSU can pick off a couple of January wins, February looks manageable.
VANDERBILT
OLE MISS
At Oklahoma
FLORIDA
At Mississippi State
At Auburn
TEXAS A&M
Four of the seven games are at home, and the three road opponents didn’t make the NCAA Tournament last year. Porter Moser is on a warm seat in Norman. Pearl could coach his way to one with a poor season on The Plains.
Florida is loaded with the return of Thomas Haugh, Reuben Chinyelu and Alex Condon to the frontcourt. The Gators will feature one of the most expensive rosters in the country. Outside of that game, every one on the February slate feels manageable.
March brings a return visit from Arkansas and a trip to Missouri to close out the SEC schedule.
OVERVIEW
Considering the circumstances with LSU’s program, the non-conference schedule isn’t bad at all. Gonzaga and Houston away from home will be very beneficial even if they’re losses. A win would be massive. The Palm Springs tournament will likely be power conference opponents.
There will be some mid-majors on the schedule who win a lot of games. There are also some layups like UNO and Texas Southern that will be stress-free.
LSU needs to find a way to survive January and play its best basketball in February. If so, the Tigers can be a tournament team.
That’s really hard to say without knowing the last two or three spots on the roster, but Wade’s track record is pretty strong in that department.
