Nine weeks into the 2026 season, LSU finds itself in a familiar position despite a massive offseason investment. A 31-13 loss to No. 5 Alabama on Saturday dropped the No. 14 Tigers to 6-3 and left their College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread. The Crimson Tide have now won seven of their last eight trips to Death Valley, most by comfortable margins.
Investment vs. Results
LSU fired Brian Kelly after the 2025 season and pursued Lane Kiffin, who signed a contract worth approximately $91 million overall, including $13 million this year plus incentives. The buyout for Kelly cost $54 million. The program also doubled its roster spending, with the 2026 roster costing slightly north of $40 million compared to $18-20 million in 2025, according to sources cited by CBS Sports. An anonymous SEC front-office staffer described LSU as "almost in a tier of its own this year" in terms of spending.
Despite the 100 percent increase in spending, LSU has only one more win through nine games than last season. The Tigers entered the season as a virtual playoff lock and a national championship pick by some pundits. On the field, the offense has improved dramatically, averaging 37.1 points and 504.1 yards per game compared to 23.6 points and 341.8 yards in 2025. The defense has also improved, allowing 17.7 points and 261.1 yards per game versus 19.0 points and 327.9 yards last year. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has been more dynamic than the 2025 combination of Garrett Nussmeier and Michael Van Buren Jr., while receivers Jackson Harris and Trey'Dez Green and edge rushers Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross have stood out.
Margins Decide Games
The schedule has not been drastically tougher; ESPN FPI ranked the 2026 slate No. 23 in difficulty versus No. 12 last year. However, LSU has lost close games due to failures in high-leverage moments. Against Alabama, the Tigers went 0-for-4 on fourth down and lost the turnover battle 2-0. In the second quarter, LSU gained 129 yards and reached Alabama territory on every drive but came away with zero points due to a missed field goal, a failed fourth-down attempt, and an interception by Leavitt. In an earlier overtime loss to Kentucky, a conservative fourth-down punt decision and a decision to kick an extra point instead of going for two in overtime contributed to the defeat. Kiffin is running out of time to correct these issues with games against Texas and a road trip to Tennessee remaining.
