LSU’s returning players must make impact

Much attention on coach Lane Kiffin’s first LSU football team has been focused on the 40-plus players who joined the program as transfers from other schools.

However, as many as 15 players who remained with the Tigers during the transition from former coach Brian Kelly to Kiffin will assume huge roles on the 2026 team.

It is quite possible that a dozen starters for the season-opener against Clemson are individuals who joined LSU when Kelly was head coach.