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ESPN Releases Way-Too-Early Top 25 For 2026 Season

by Staff Reporter

January 20, 202624 Comments

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

As soon as the 2025 College Football season ended on Monday night with Indiana beating Miami in the National Championship, ESPN released its Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2026 season.

LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin came in at No. 15 in the rankings. Here's what they had to say about the Tigers.

quote:
15. LSU Tigers
2025 record: 7-6, 3-5 SEC

Key starters expected to leave: QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Barion Brown, WR Zavion Thomas, S A.J. Haulcy, DE Jack Pyburn, LB Harold Perkins Jr., CB Mansoor Delane, WR Aaron Anderson

Key additions: QB Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), WR Jayce Brown (Kansas State), WR Eugene Wilson III (Florida), WR Winston Watkins (Ole Miss), WR Tre' Brown III (Old Dominion), DE Jordan Ross (Tennessee), DT Stephiylan Green (Clemson), S Ty Benefield (Boise State), G Devin Harper (Ole Miss), LB TJ Dottery (Ole Miss), DT Malik Blocton (Auburn)

2026 outlook: Love him or hate him, there's little debate that new LSU coach Lane Kiffin builds winning programs, and his teams score a lot of points. The Tigers held off Miami, Tennessee and others to land Leavitt, who is coming off foot surgery. In 2024, he led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title by throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions. Kiffin and his staff loaded the roster with proven receivers, and they grabbed several transfers to rebuild what was a very mediocre offensive line in 2025. Kiffin grabbed three potential starters from Ole Miss, his former school, in Harper, Dottery and Umanmielen. Retaining defensive coordinator Blake Baker was a coup, as was persuading linebacker Whit Weeks to come back. The Tigers will play Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama and Texas at home, but no game will be more anticipated than their Sept. 19 SEC opener at Ole Miss.

Complete Way-Too-Early Top 25:
1. Indiana Hoosiers
2. Texas Longhorns
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
4. Georgia Bulldogs
5. Oregon Ducks
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders
8. Miami Hurricanes
9. Ole Miss Rebels
10. Texas A&M Aggies
11. BYU Cougars
12. Oklahoma Sooners
13. USC Trojans
14. Louisville Cardinals
15. LSU Tigers
16. Iowa Hawkeyes
17. SMU Mustangs
18. Michigan Wolverines
19. Washington Huskies
20. TCU Horned Frogs
21. Alabama Crimson Tide
22. Penn State Nittany Lions
23. Arizona State Sun Devils
24. Tennessee Volunteers
25. Utah Utes

Filed Under: LSU Football

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24 Comments

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eddieray•1 month

Since it’s admittingly way too early, stop releasing these

CalTiger53•1 month

They always make predictions based on last years results. Like putting Penn State, Clemson, and Texas in top 5 last year. meaningless.

Powerman•1 month

We aren't in the top 15 because of last year's results. Sounds like they put some thought into it.

BIIIL•1 month

Did you even read what he said? Indiana is #1 and they won't have their quarterback back. They won't even win their conference next season. And ole miss will end up with the record we had this year...if they're lucky

TabasgeauxHD•1 month

None of this matters. Who cares.

charlesmartinmike•1 month

This moron says our O line was mediocre. He don’t know shite.

Koolazzkat•1 month

Obviously ESPN made a mistake. Bama at 21, they probably meant 12. Lol.

s2•1 month

knowing the media ESPN probably meant 1 or 2, undeserving either way.

Higgysmalls•1 month

Indiana will not be #1 next year

KCT•1 month

1) They're always going to love Notre Dame.

2) Seems strange to see Alabama at #21.

Tiger987•1 month

The returning rosters are completely wrong. Why would they even put this out there??

TDsngumbo•1 month

#21 - Alabama.... wow, when's the last time that happened?

rileytiger•1 month

Really don’t care that list will be flipped 2 weeks in the season. The Portal makes it impossible to predict. LSU should be in the top 10. Alabama in at 21 makes smile though!

Shaq4prez•1 month

ole miss at 9 with no qb. Texas overhyped. ND given a free pass into the top5. yep this is an espn preseason top 25

cajunmud•1 month

Where's the NC game next year? ;-)

CDawson•1 month

Indiana #1 tells me this is fake.

scorb•1 month

Is Umanmielen committed? This guy thinks so.

TigersOnTop4Ever•1 month

This write up says we got prince Umanmielen, is that confirmed yet? Haven't seen it on TD yet

Smokin Joe Dumas•1 month

Nope

6R12•1 month

yes, WAYYYYY to early.

Big Hogg•1 month

Notre Dame always hyped! They probably would have a .500 record in the SEC!

TrueTiger•1 month

About where I was thinking

DaleGribblesMower•1 month

So they make sure to put the Fighting Pedos at 3 so that when they lose one of the shite games they’ve scheduled they’ll only drop to 10

BabyTac•1 month

$120+ million to go 7-6. lol.