By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
There is only one Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football team in the country that is in the top six in total offense and total defense right now.
That is your LSU Tigers under first-year coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin’s and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s offense is No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in total yards a game with 510 behind quarterback Sam Leavitt.
And defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit is No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC in fewest yards allowed given up a game with 258.1.
There is only one other program in the top 10 of both categories – Ohio State at No. 10 in total offense with 476.3 yards a game and No. 6 in total defense with 264.3 yards given up a game.
Kiffin said several times before this season and early this season that his transfer portal-heavy team – 42 players – would be at its best as the season went on, which was the case during his time at Ole Miss from 2020-25.
LSU’s POI – Proof of Investment – never looked better than on The Plains Saturday after selling The Farm for Lane Kiffin Roster Enterprises. Column: https://t.co/tzvvlkU5iT
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) October 25, 2026
And that is happening now as the No. 15 Tigers (6-2, 3-2 SEC) sit in an open week after its best game of the season at Auburn before their final four regular season games of the season – all in the SEC.
LSU begins that stretch on Saturday, Nov. 7, at home against No. 10 Alabama (6-2, 4-2) at 2:30 p.m. on ABC in Tiger Stadium.
After that, it’s No. 11 Texas (5-2, 2-2 SEC) on Nov. 14 in Tiger Stadium, followed by two road trips – at No. 16 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2) on Nov. 21 and at Arkansas (3-4, 1-3) on Nov. 28. The SEC Championship Game is on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. on ABC.
“Most teams in the SEC usually have a glaring offense or defense between total offense and defense, and we don’t have those,” Kiffin said. “Our offensive and defensive statistics are really good. We lead the SEC in both offense and defense – top 10 nationally in both. It goes to show what we’ve been saying about the team – we have really good players who play really good at times. And usually when we screw up, it’s us making mistakes.”
LSU is clearly playing balanced football.
In pass offense, the Tigers are No. 1 in the SEC and No. 6 nationally with 318 yards a game, while the defense is No. 18 overall and No. 3 in the league against the pass with 172.8 yards allowed a game. In rushing defense, LSU is No. 1 in the SEC and No. 6 nationally with 85.4 yards allowed a game. And LSU’s rush offense is decent at No. 33 in the nation and No. 5 in the SEC with 192 yards a game.
LSU’s offense is No. 2 in the SEC and No. 16 nationally in third down conversions at 51 percent (61 of 118), while the defense is only allowing a 30 percent third-down conversion rate (35 of 114) for second in the SEC and 16th natonally.
In scoring, the LSU offense is No. 7 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC with 40.1 points a game. The defense is also No. 2 in the SEC and No. 17 nationally with 16 points given up a game.
But there is one area specifically Kiffin and Baker will be zeroing in on this week.
“We need to improve in some areas as we self-scout,” Kiffin said. “One would be turnover margin.”
LSU is No. 87 in the nation and No. 11 in the SEC with a -2 in turnover margin. The offense has lost three fumbles amid Leavitt’s eight interceptions for 11 giveaways, though he has not thrown one in the last two weeks. The defense has nine takeaways with two recovered fumbles and seven interceptions for a -2 turnover ratio.
“That’s the one glaring thing,” Kiffin said. “When we don’t screw up games, we’re really hard to beat. I think we play as well as any team in the country.”
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