LSU Football Receives Stunning Landing Spot in Way-Too-Early Rankings For 2026 Season

Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers will enter the 2026 season with College Football Playoff expectations after opening the checkbook this offseason in order to assemble the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class in America.

Once the two-week window opened on Jan. 2, Kiffin and Co. immediately hit the ground running with a myriad of Top-100 prospects in the market making their way to Baton Rouge for visits.

With Kiffin at the helm, there are championship expectations for the program in the Bayou State with the chance to steer the ship in the right direction beginning in 2026.

“This place is built for championships with championship expectations. We understand that, but as an elite competitor, that’s exactly what you want, and that’s why we’re here,” Kiffin said at his introductory press conference. …

"I know that we have, with the passion of LSU family and our LSU players, that we have everything to bring championship football back to LSU.

“It’s time for LSU to take its place back as the best program in all of college football. … I’m uniquely prepared at 50 years old for this job to have been so many places, done good things, made a lot of mistakes and made them really early on.”

LSU Tigers Football: Tyree Holloway. — Courtesy of Tyree Holloway's Instagram.

Now, the "Way-Too-Early" rankings for the 2026 season have been revealed by On3 Sports with LSU receiving their slot.

LSU earned the No. 12 ranking in the early poll after the program assembled America's No. 1 Transfer Portal Class while also revamping the staff in Baton Rouge.

"When you hire Lane Kiffin, you get the circus. But you also get a portal-heavy roster that will produce results quickly," On3 Sports wrote. "QB Sam Leavitt was the biggest prize in the transfer portal this offseason.

"Cornerback Faheem Delane (Ohio State) is the younger brother of Mansoor Delane, who starred for LSU in 2025. The Tigers aren’t done, either.

"They’re trying to land Colorado transfer offensive tackle Jordan Seaton out of the portal. Kiffin also has retained plenty of key players, including red zone cheat code Trey’Dez Green."

NEW: On3 2026 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25👀

Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/Eel5VBAUlk pic.twitter.com/U2YlWB1Lfg
— On3 (@On3) January 19, 2026

Where did LSU stack up alongside the other Top-25 programs in America?

The Way-Too-Early Rankings:

1. Ohio State

2. Georgia

3. Texas

4. Notre Dame

5. Indiana

6. Oregon

7. Texas Tech

8. Texas A&M

9. Miami

10. Oklahoma

11. Michigan

12. LSU

13. BYU

14. Penn State

15. Ole Miss

16. Utah

17. Alabama

18. Washigton

19. USC

20. Tennessee

21. Iowa

22. Houston

23. Virginia Tech

24. Florida

25. Arizona

More LSU News:

LSU Football's Transfer Portal Class Skyrockets To The Top After Sam Leavitt Decision

LSU Football's Transfer Portal Departures Quickly Finding New Schools Amid Rebuild

LSU Football Officially Signs No. 1 Transfer Quarterback Sam Leavitt to Portal Class

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU Tigers.