Can LSU Really Win the SEC in 2026? | Big Year 1 For Lane Kiffin

On The Hunt Palmer Show, Hunt breaks down Bill Connelly's latest SP+ projections for the SEC and why the analytics are surprisingly optimistic about LSU heading into the 2026 season. Despite coming off a 7-6 campaign and undergoing massive changes with Lane Kiffin taking over, the Tigers are projected to have one of the nation's best defenses, a top-four team in the SEC, and a legitimate path to the SEC Championship Game. Hunt explains why LSU's returning production, transfer portal additions, and favorable conference schedule all factor into SP+'s projections, why the Tigers are ranked behind only Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M in the SEC, and what LSU must do to outperform its projected win total. If the Tigers can win the SEC's inevitable one-score games, the road to Atlanta and the College Football Playoff is very much on the table.