One thing we aren’t talking enough about for LSU in 2026

By Chris Marler

We begin our latest offseason series today looking at some of the strengths of every SEC team. More specifically we dive into some strengths that not enough people are talking about. Normally we do it in alphabetical order, but after watching this LSU baseball season, the people of Baton Rouge could use some positivity. 

Here’s one thing we aren’t talking enough about for the LSU Tigers 2026 football season.

The schedule 

There are a ton of positives for LSU going into 2026. In case you haven’t heard, they got a new coach. A ball first, keep your head down and stay out of the spotlight kinda guy – Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin brings a lot to Baton Rouge in year one of his tenure. Sure, there are some tweets and antics that will rub people the wrong way. He does however alleviate an immediate issue that plagued the Tigers a season ago. Kiffin and Charlie Weis, Jr. will provide an instant upgrade to the LSU offense, and the absurd amount of offensive talent that is on this roster will almost certainly be one of the conference’s best units. 

This year the SEC schedule goes from eight to nine conference games. That will add another loss to half the teams in the league with the additional weekend. The extra league game could cost teams a shot at the playoff. 

LSU isn’t immune to that just because they have Kiffin. Their schedule is loaded. LSU’s five toughest opponents are universally considered to be Clemson, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Texas. That’s a gauntlet of preseason top 25 teams and rosters loaded with former blue chip and future NFL talent. 

The good news for hte Tigers is they get four of those five games at home. 

College Football News ranked every #SEC schedule from the toughest to the easiest ahead of the 2026 college football season 👀 pic.twitter.com/wuVNXTNSvP

— SEC Country (@SECcountry) May 7, 2026

The one team that doesn’t have to come to Baton Rouge is Kiffin’s former team. That will be as hostile an environment that LSU will face this season considering the offseason shenanigans we’ve all grown tired of hearing about and rehashing. But even in that game, Kiffin will have something Ole Miss won’t and desperately needs – himself. 

In a year where everyone in the SEC’s schedule got harder with a ninth conference game, LSU lucked up and got 80 percent of their toughest games at home. That’s a win. It will probably result in several more too.