The AP Poll & Playoff Expectations
The No. 11 Spot: The ranking puts LSU right on the borderline of the new 12-team College Football Playoff field.
SEC Dominance: LSU is one of nine SEC programs featured in the initial Top 25.
Tough Road Ahead: The Tigers are scheduled to face five ranked opponents on their 2026 schedule, including a highly anticipated road game back at Ole Miss. Fall Camp & Scrimmage Report
Following LSU's first major closed scrimmage, Kiffin and coordinators evaluated critical areas of the roster:
Quarterback Clarity: Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt remains healthy and locked in as QB1, displaying strong command of Kiffin’s signature fast-tempo offense.
Scrimmage Standouts: The defense reportedly held the upper hand during Saturday's live scrimmage. Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker's unit flew around with aggressive, high-energy play.
Wide Receiver Battles: Kiffin noted they entirely "retooled that room from top to bottom" via nine new transfer additions, creating an entirely open, fierce competition for starting snaps.
Position Battles: Critical evaluations are ongoing at right tackle (where Weston Davis is fighting off Shawn Tomkins) and at safety. Freshman running back Stacy Gage is also emerging as a reliable third option.
Injury Report: Key players like Harlem Berry, Malik Blockton, and Jordan Ross sat out of Monday's viewing window, but Kiffin quickly downplayed any long-term concern, stating they "should be fine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.