Predicting The Best College Football Games For Every Week In The SEC

Athlon Sports recently predicted the best college football games for every week in the SEC, with LSU selected for three matchups in 2026:

Week 1: Clemson at LSU (Sept. 5)
Week 3: LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19)
Week 11: Texas at LSU (Nov. 14)

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Week 1: Clemson at LSU (Sept. 5):
It’s a close call between Clemson-LSU and Ole Miss-Louisville in Nashville for the No. 1 spot in Week 1. However, it’s tough to pick against coach Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut against a Clemson team aiming to rebound after a disappointing 7-6 record last year.

Other Key Games in Week 1:
East Carolina at Alabama
Auburn vs. Baylor (In Atlanta)
Ole Miss vs. Louisville (On Sunday)

Week 3: LSU at Ole Miss (Sept. 19):
This one is simple: Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford.

Other Key Games in Week 3:
Florida State at Alabama
Georgia at Arkansas
Florida at Auburn
Kentucky at Texas A&M
Mississippi State at South Carolina
New Mexico at Oklahoma
NC State at Vanderbilt

Week 11: Texas at LSU (Nov. 14):
Ole Miss at Oklahoma and Tennessee at Texas A&M are solid candidates for No. 1 in Week 11. But this matchup in Baton Rouge could mean a lot for positioning within the SEC for the playoffs and is also a huge opportunity for new coach Lane Kiffin to pick up a massive victory in his first season with the Bayou Bengals. It’s also a homecoming for New Orleans native and Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

Other Key Games in Week 11:
South Carolina at Arkansas
Missouri at Georgia
Florida at Kentucky
Auburn at Mississippi State
Ole Miss at Oklahoma
Tennessee at Texas A&M
Alabama at Vanderbilt

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