ESPN FPI Ranks Toughest College Football Schedules Entering The 2026 Season

ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) has released its rankings of the toughest schedules in college football entering the 2026 season, and LSU landed at No. 11 nationally.

The Tigers are one of 16 SEC programs to crack the Top 25, highlighting the week-to-week challenge of navigating the conference.

Arkansas claimed the top spot, followed by Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

Here's the complete SOS rankings for 2026, followed by LSU's 2026 schedule:

1. Arkansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Kentucky
5. Ole Miss
6. Mississippi State
7. Florida
8. Ohio State
9. Texas A&M
10. South Carolina
11. LSU
12. Missouri
13. Auburn
14. Tennessee
15. Alabama
16. Michigan
17. Northwestern
18. Vanderbilt
19. USC
20. Georgia
21. Nebraska
22. Florida State
23. Purdue
24. Boston College
25. Washington

2026 LSU Football Schedule:

Sep 5 vs. Clemson (6:30 pm - ABC)
Sep 12 vs. Louisiana Tech (6:30 pm - SECN+)
Sep 19 at Ole Miss (6:30 pm - ABC)
Sep 26 vs. Texas A&M
Oct 3 vs. McNeese State
Oct 10 at Kentucky
Oct 17 vs. Mississippi St.
Oct 24 at Auburn
Nov 7 vs. Alabama
Nov 14 vs. Texas
Nov 21 at Tennessee
Nov 28 at Arkansas