Texas A&M saw one of their chief rivals, LSU, get quite a bit stronger this offseason by finally hiring their long-desired candidate, Lane Kiffin, as head coach in Baton Rouge. Kiffin, who comes over from Ole Miss with quite the reputation as a master of the transfer portal, is anticipated by many in the purple and gold to be immediately competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Brian Kelly no doubt squandered the talent he had in Baton Rouge, but it's also not as easy as some Tiger fans may think to jump right into a place where the culture is so rotten and make a run at the championship— especially when culture-building is not your forte.
Kiffin himself attempted today to tamp down the enthusiasm of LSU fans, sending alarm bells across the Boot as he did so. Aggie fans, however, loved to hear what he had to say.
Lane Kiffin cautions optimistic LSU fans about 2026, while Aggie fans are overjoyed
Here's what Kiffin had to say about the upcoming season:
Lane Kiffin knows LSU Football fans want immediate success but he stresses it takes time to build a program to an elite level.
— Farrah Yvette (@farrah_yvette) March 24, 2026
He is excited about the new era but essentially is asking for patience to get LSU back to the glory days. pic.twitter.com/JrcOZrgQoO
How well did this go over, you ask?
He has 5 1/2 months. That better be enough time.
— Phil Thomas (@ThomasPhilipw) March 24, 2026
Not well!
If the Tigers struggle out of the gate, it will be a help to the Aggies, as they meet them in week four. LSU as a fanbase will be wanting some revenge on Texas A&M, but with so much turnover on the Tigers' roster, the vitriol may not quite be there on the players' level.
The other factor is that the Tigers play the Aggies right after they take a trip to Oxford, so the emotion of that road game will no doubt still be affecting them. If Texas A&M can manage to win two straight in Baton Rouge, it will be a huge accomplishment and mean big things are coming for the 2026 season.
This is all just conjecture at this point, of course, but the Aggies could have gotten a favorable draw here if things aren't progressing the way Kiffin wants them to. Here's hoping the Tigers' struggles turn into Texas A&M's gain.