Expectations are high for ahead of its first season under coach .
Just how high are they?
The Tigers were picked to finish fifth in the SEC in the 2026 edition of the league’s annual preseason poll, the results of which were released on Friday. Media members pegged LSU to land behind Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M but ahead of Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida.
Only 10 times since 1992 has the media’s preseason predicted champion proceeded to win the SEC title game.
Nine Tigers were voted onto an All-SEC team, too.
Tight end Trey’Dez Green and left tackle Jordan Seaton were given spots on the first-team offense, while center Braelin Moore landed a place on the third-team offense. Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker Whit Weeks each picked up enough votes to land on the first-team defense. Cornerback DJ Pickett and safety Ty Benefield earned slots on the second-team defense.
TJ Dottery was one of the linebackers voted onto the third team, and Grant Chadwick was the first-team punter.
Two voters (out of 164) said LSU will win the SEC crown, which makes it one of eight teams to receive at least one first-place nod.
Last season, the Tigers finished 10th in the league after it was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll. That disappointing result led the school to fire coach and hire Kiffin — a move that made its football program one of the top storylines at SEC media days in Tampa, Florida. Kiffin was a all week before the LSU contingent arrived at the event on Thursday.
The first-year coach fielded about his controversial decision to leave Ole Miss ahead of its College Football Playoff run last November. Kiffin also addressed his that ignited a firestorm in May and his recent decision to go quiet on social media, a move that he said started as a challenge from his teenage son, Knox.
“I've built my life on pushing out of comfort,” Kiffin said. “And that may not be for everybody, and that's fine. That's just how I am. Everyone talks about the pressure of LSU and what comes with that … then there’s the expectations that everybody in the media has that we're supposed to be this great team right away.
“That's an awesome challenge. You want to talk about getting uncomfortable? That does it.”
LSU will begin preseason camp in early August. Its season is set to kick off at home against Clemson on Sept. 5.
2026 SEC preseason poll
Predicted order of finish
Georgia
Texas
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
LSU
Alabama
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Florida
Missouri
South Carolina
Auburn
Vanderbilt
Kentucky
Mississippi State
Arkansas