LSU Football Preview
By Jim Gazzolo
For better or worse, the Lane Kiffin era at LSU is set to begin.
Lane Kiffin | Photo by: Ella Hall
Money may not be able to buy you love, but it can get you a football coach and well-paid players.
Wins? We’ll have to wait and see.
Thanks to what’s reported to be close to a $40-million roster, expectations among fans are high for the Kiffin-led Tigers. Nationally, not so much. LSU is ranked 13th in the preseason coaches’ poll despite the spending spree and coaching change.
Still, Tiger fans believe little could’ve been worse than what they endured under Brian Kelly. LSU hasn’t been part of the national championship conversation since 2019, which makes the faithful in Baton Rouge awfully anxious and angry now.
Kelly came to LSU from Notre Dame, proclaiming he could win titles with the Tigers, something that had been out of reach at ND. Since then, the Irish have made the playoffs and advanced to the title game.
LSU did nothing of relevance under Kelly, who was let go last season and given a very big check to get lost. Kiffin was given an even bigger check to leave Ole Miss before the Rebels began their own playoff run.
Kiffin said he wanted to go to LSU to win championships because he couldn’t with the Rebels.
Sound familiar?
“I’m incredibly honored to have the opportunity to lead the storied LSU football program,” Kiffin said. “From national championships to iconic players, LSU is synonymous with excellence and is among the most powerful brands in all of sports.”
Kiffin said a lot of other things about Ole Miss, as well, adding to his persona as a lightning rod whose exit always seems to leave a mess.
Now he comes to LSU with both hope and baggage. It’s the hope and hype that has LSU paying $91 million over the next seven years. As for Kiffin’s baggage, it would clearly not fit in the overhead bin. In fact, it might take up the entire plane. One thing is for sure: The coach who has never really won anything continues to have the spotlight focused on him.
This can only end one of two ways, either in national championship glory or utter disaster. Smart money may put a marker down on both. One thing’s for sure: It won’t be boring.
“I think that’s a big part of growth. If you really want to keep growing, a lot of people add things as they go versus subtracting things that are issues,” Kiffin said. “Whether that’s diet, whether that’s, in my situation, alcohol, whether that’s things that are subtracted along the way … toxic relationships, things that, as you grow, you decide, ‘Okay, I’m going to continue to grow.’”
At least Kiffin can coach. Now he’s even staying off social media. It’s about winning, which, like Kelly, Kiffin believes is easier to do at LSU.
“We came here to win and win now,” Kiffin said. To do that, he hit the transfer portal hard.
The Tigers have 59 newcomers, 43 of whom are transfers. They come to LSU for a reported $40 million, which is believed to be the most expensive roster in college football history.
In Baton Rouge, the new motto is, if you can’t beat ’em, buy ’em. Money may not be able to buy you love, but it could buy the Tigers a national championship … or destroy the athletic program.
Sam Leavitt | Photo by: Ella Hall
Backfield
The big catch was quarterback Sam Leavitt, who, two years ago, was a breakout star at Arizona State. He heads an all-new QB room. But he, too, has some baggage.
After leading the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title and the playoffs, Leavitt played just seven games last year because of a foot injury requiring surgery. His health is key to LSU’s season.
In 2024, Leavitt threw for 2,820 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. He also ran for 502 yards and five TDs without a fumble.
Under Kiffin and the new offensive coaching staff, Leavitt, if healthy, could have a huge season.
In his 24 games at ASU and Michigan State, Leavitt gained more than 5,400 total yards and 46 touchdowns.
Leavitt was not the Tigers’ first choice — they wanted Brendan Sorsby. And LSU may have dodged their first major bullet of the season already with that move. Sorsby won’t play this year after gambling issues.
“I’m looking forward to playing for Coach Kiffin,” said Leavitt. “He’s one of the best offensive coaches around.”
The Tigers also picked up USC transfer Huson Longstreet and Landon Clark from Elon. The Tigers have a host of new running backs to count on, but Harlem Barry and Caden Durham both decided to return, as well. That leaves the Tigers with a lot of guys to pick from when it comes to running the football.
Berry is the big keep. The sophomore started the last six games in 2025 and finished rushing for 491 yards and two touchdowns on 104 carries. He averaged 4.7 yards a carry and caught another eight passes for 32 yards.
Despite his reputation for the passing game, Kiffin wants to spread things out and run the football.
Trey’Dez Green | Photo by: Ella Hall
Receivers And Tight Ends
This is where things get interesting. Leavitt will have a whole group of new pass catchers to throw the football to this fall. The learning curve will have to be quick as he looks for his go-to guys.
One player he may be looking for is Eugene Wilson III, a transfer from Florida who had a knee injury last season. The 5-foot, 11-inch, 190-pound Wilson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school in 2023.
He hit the ground running, catching 61 passes for 538 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman. Wilson will look to regain that type of production after two down years at Florida.
However, he has just 40 catches for 505 yards and four scores the last two seasons. The hope is Kiffin’s offense can give him a fresh start.
Senior Jayce Brown comes over from Kansas State, where he played three seasons for the Wildcats. He won All-Big 12 once and finished with 115 catches for 1,972 yards and 13 touchdowns over 33 games, 27 of those starts.
Jackson Harris is a third transfer receiver joining Kiffin. Last season he was All-Mountain West while at Hawaii, grabbing 49 passes for 963 yards and 12 scores. He played his first two years at Stanford.
Tight end Trey’Dez Green (33 catches, 431 yards, 7 TDs) could be a breakout player. At 6 feet, 7 inches, he’s a mismatch on the goal line.
Jordan Seaton | Photo by: Gus Stark
O-Line
LSU picked up the portal’s top offensive lineman in Colorado’s Jordan Seaton to protect Leavitt’s blind side. Center Braelin Moore and right tackle Weston Davis return. They will be joined by Devin Harper at left guard and Aliou Bah at right guard.
This group must play better than last year in order for LSU to have a chance. Kiffin is counting on them to lead his offense.
Princewill Umanmielen | Photo by: Gus Stark
D-Line
Kiffin did not come from Ole Miss alone. His biggest prize came with him in edge pass rusher Princewill Umanmielen. He was tied for third in sacks last fall in the SEC with nine, helping to transform the Rebels defense during its playoff season.
Three other newcomers will likely start on the defensive line for the Tigers, who had trouble on that side of the football. Dominick McKinley, Jordan Ross and Steph Green are all juniors who will hold down the line with Umanmielen. “Princewill is a difference maker,” Kiffin said.
Weston Davis, Princewill Umanmielen | Photo by: Gianpaolo Nicolosi
Linebackers
Last year the only Rebel defender to outplay Umanmielen was linebacker TJ Dottery, who also made the move to Baton Rouge in the offseason. Dottery finished with an SEC-best 98 tackles last season for Ole Miss.
Whit Weeks | Photo by: Gus Stark
He will join a group led by returning senior Whit Weeks, who decided against going into the NFL draft in favor of making one last run at LSU. Weeks is recovering from a broken ankle suffered last year against the Rebels. Junior Davhon Keys should also play a big part in this group.
Secondary
Safety Ty Benefield comes over from Boise State after making 107 tackles for the Broncos. He should provide leadership and big plays for the Tigers, who will have some newcomers on the back line.
DJ Pickett | Photo by: Gus Stark
DJ Pickett will try to fill the shoes of Mansoor Delane at cornerback. Delane was an All-American in 2025. Pickett will likely be asked to guard the best receiver on the other side, a big spot for LSU’s defense.
The job of this group will be to not allow the big play. Those happened far too often last year, keeping the offense off the field and leading to many of the team’s issues. However, the biggest person returning to the Tigers is not a player. Blake Baker is back as the defensive coordinator, which is a giant get for Kiffin.
Baker looked around at the end of last season, even being talked about as a possible head coach. Those never panned out, as LSU opened up its wallet once again and paid for a very happy homecoming with Baker.
Special Teams
Grant Chadwick will be back as the Tiger’s punter after a solid season in 2025. He placed second in the SEC with an average of 45.7 per punt. That should be good enough to get LSU out of trouble and flip the field when needed.
As for place kicking, gone is the record-setting foot of Damian Ramos, meaning Kiffin dipped into the transfer portal once again and wrote a check for help. Scott Starzyk answered the call and is moving over from Arkansas, where he had a nice freshman campaign.
Scott Starzyk | Photo by: Gus Stark
Starzyk made all of 47 extra-point tries and hit on 14 of 18 field goals.
I think we can all agree the fallout from Kelly’s buyout and Kiffin’s hiring was a public relations nightmare for LSU and its new leadership. The LSU brand took a black eye, as did Kiffin.
He became college football enemy no. 1 as he left Ole Miss players and fans high and dry just as they made the playoffs. Then Kiffin made things worse before they ever started to get better. None of that matters to LSU and the Tiger faithful, of course.
Those who booed Kiffin while he was elsewhere now love him as their head coach.
As for the rest of the nation, well, they’ve seen this act before.
Now comes the hard part for Kiffin. With all the money spent, and all the hype, he must bring this roster of riches together to be more than just money men and get them to play as a team.
That may not be so easy when you consider all the pressure on this club. Kiffin’s warned the Tiger faithful of what’s to come. “There is a lot of work that has to be done before we get to where we belong,” Kiffin has said.
We’re about to find out if all the attention and all the money paid to young men pays off in a championship. Right now, some folks are just hoping LSU secures a spot in the playoffs.
No matter what takes place, thanks to Kiffin, all eyes will be on the Tigers this season.
And, of course, on him, too.
That’s just what the coach wants, and exactly what LSU hired him to do.
It is, after all, what they paid for.
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