Lane Kiffin takes over as head coach at LSU in 2026, with Charlie Weis Jr. following him from Ole Miss as offensive coordinator. Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt joins the program at quarterback after missing the latter portion of the 2025 season with an injury. Caden Durham and Harlem Berry return at running back, while Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones joins the backfield. LSU must replace its top two receivers from last season in Barion Brown and Zavion Thomas following their departures for the NFL. Tight end Trey’Dez Green returns, while Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown joins the receiving corps with 115 career receptions. Ole Miss transfer Winston Watkins and Hawai’i transfer Jackson Harris also join the group. The offensive line returns full-time starters Braelin Moore and Weston Davis after making 12 and 10 starts, respectively. Maryland transfer Aliou Bah joins the group after making 12 starts last season, while Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton arrives after making nine.
Blake Baker enters his third season as defensive coordinator. LSU returns five of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including leading tackler Davhon Keys, while three of its top five tacklers have departed. Keys and Whit Weeks return at linebacker, with Weeks entering 2026 with 205 career tackles. Ole Miss transfer T.J. Dottery joins the linebacker group with 177 career tackles. LSU will feature a rebuilt defensive front, with Auburn transfer Malik Blocton joining the group after making eight starts last season and Clemson transfer Stephiylan Green arriving after making six. Ole Miss transfer Prince Umanmielen also joins the group after making one start, while freshmen Lamar Brown and Deuce Geralds add additional options along the defensive line. Tamarcus Cooley, P.J. Woodland, and D.J. Pickett return in the secondary, giving LSU three returning top-11 tacklers in the group.
Joe Houston takes over as special teams coordinator. Arkansas transfer Scott Starzyk joins the program at placekicker, while Grant Chadwick returns at punter. LSU will feature new primary returners following the departures of Barion Brown and Zavion Thomas. LSU enters 2026 with a new head coach and quarterback while returning established experience at linebacker, in the secondary, and along the offensive line.