There hasn’t been bigger hype around an SEC coach since the Nick Saban era. With Lane Kiffin’s arrival in Baton Rouge, the hype and noise come as well. In the past weeks, Kiffin and the LSU administration have been testing the lines of college football recruiting players who’ve been in NFL uniforms, like Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, including in other professional sports like basketball. It’s true other teams have been doing the same as LSU, but Kiffin has become the poster boy for this issue, simultaneously endangering his career.
Chatter and drama in sports at times cause distractions for pro players, so don’t be surprised if the drama Kiffin likes to find himself in costs them a few games this season. LSU has a strong chance of making the playoffs; remember they are in the SEC with tight competition with Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama and, of course, Texas. November will be key for the Tigers with a stretch of games vs. Alabama, Texas and Tennessee, three teams ranked to start this season with Texas at No. 5.
A first-year coach is always an adjustment, with players getting used to new play calling, including a new quarterback, Sam Leavitt, at the helm. If the Tigers can’t find rhythm early this season, they might find themselves out of the playoffs already in Week 3 or 4 if they drop their Ole Miss matchup or Texas A&M matchup.
