LSU Football's SEC Preseason Poll Ranking and Lane Kiffin's Challenges LSU football was ranked fifth in the SEC preseason poll for the 2026 season, as determined by media members. The team was projected to finish behind Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M in the league standings but ahead of Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Florida. The poll results, released on Friday, highlighted the high expectations for the program under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin. Nine LSU players were selected to the All-SEC team. Tight end Trey’Dez Green and left tackle Jordan Seaton earned first-team honors on offense, while center Braelin Moore was named to the third-team offense. On defense, edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker Whit Weeks secured first-team spots. Cornerback DJ Pickett and safety Ty Benefield were named to the second-team defense. Additional selections included linebacker TJ Dottery on the third-team and punter Grant Chadwick on the first-team. Two voters out of 164 predicted LSU would win the SEC title, making it one of eight teams to receive at least one first-place vote. Last season, the Tigers finished 10th in the league after being picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll. That result led to the firing of coach Brian Kelly and the hiring of Kiffin, who became a focal point at SEC media days in Tampa, Florida. Kiffin faced questions about his decision to leave Ole Miss ahead of its College Football Playoff run in November. He also addressed his recent social media silence, which he attributed to a challenge from his teenage son, Knox. During media days, Kiffin acknowledged the pressure of coaching LSU and the expectations placed on the program.#lsu_football #sec_preseason_poll #lane_kiffin #trey_dez_green #braelin_moore
