LSU football prepares for season under Lane Kiffin

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is ramping up physicality during fall camp as the Tigers prepare for a difficult season opener against Clemson. The team is moving into full pads this week to emphasize tackling and live-contact evaluation. Kiffin noted that the challenging schedule requires the team to be prepared immediately, rather than easing into the season.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt has returned to full practice following offseason foot surgery. Kiffin reported that Leavitt is throwing accurately and moving well, expressing satisfaction with the player's progress after earlier limitations caused by his recovery.

Former LSU head coach Brian Kelly, now a studio analyst for CBS Sports, provided game-by-game predictions for the Tigers' 2026 season. Kelly, who was dismissed by the program in late 2025, predicted a 10-2 record for LSU under Kiffin, including a spot in the College Football Playoff. His projections include wins against Clemson, La Tech, Texas A&M, McNeese State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Tennessee, while forecasting losses to Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas.