ESPN names LSU’s season-defining game for Year 1 under Lane Kiffin
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The LSU Tigers brought in new head coach Lane Kiffin this offseason, poaching him from Ole Miss to replace Brian Kelly in what became a drama-filled move.
But the Tigers have their man heading into the 2026 season and expectations are sky high. Anything less than 10 wins and a College Football Playoff berth will likely be seen as an utter failure down in Baton Rouge.
So, which games should LSU fans circle on the calendar for this fall? ESPN’s college football experts picked season-defining games for each Power 4 team. For LSU, Andrea Adelson made a bit of a surprising choice.
In her opinion, the September matchup against Ole Miss won’t be it. Neither will games against Alabama or Tennessee, both of which also have connections to Kiffin. Here’s what Adelson had to say about a Nov. 14 visit from the Texas Longhorns:
It would have been easy to pick the Ole Miss matchup, but it is hard to pick games in September as season-defining. Alabama or Tennessee would fit the bill here, too. But given where this game falls in the schedule — and the preseason CFP expectations for both teams — this could be the one that ultimately defines the season for the Tigers.
What will the Tigers’ record be by the time the Longhorns come to town? Will Texas be pushing for a Playoff berth of its own? We’ll find out starting this fall.
Will LSU make it to the 12-team Playoff in Year 1 under Kiffin? Here’s what Kalshi has to say. LSU has a 48% chance right now:
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
