si
The LSU Tigers secured a 38-17 victory over the Auburn Tigers, marking their first SEC road win since the 2024 season. The win also gave LSU a much-needed bye week to recover and reassess.
During the bye, the coaching staff will evaluate areas for improvement and, crucially, allow players to heal from injuries. With the SEC landscape shifting weekly, here's a look at where LSU stands in the College Football Playoff race.
LSU is quietly reemerging in CFP discussions. Although it's only Week 8, the contenders and pretenders are beginning to separate. According to ESPN's College Football Power Index, LSU's FPI ranks seventh nationally at 24.0. The FPI is a forward-looking model that estimates a team's future performance and true strength on a neutral field.
Here are the Tigers' other key projections: a 12.6% chance to win out, a 9.9% chance to win the SEC title, a 45.2% chance to make the CFP, a 9% chance to reach the national championship, and a 4.4% chance to win it all. LSU's 45.2% playoff probability is the 13th-highest among all FBS teams.
The Tigers are grouped with several two-loss SEC teams. Seven SEC teams have two losses in October, with Ole Miss and Tennessee the latest to join that group. Kentucky and Georgia are the only one-loss teams, while seven others have three or more losses. The nine-game conference schedule has injected chaos, giving multiple programs a legitimate shot at the SEC title game or a playoff berth.
After LSU's loss to Kentucky, many counted out Lane Kiffin's team. However, the Tigers have won four of their last five games and are quietly reentering the conversation. If they win out, LSU should secure a CFP berth. But the path to a 10-win season is daunting.
Following the bye, the Tigers face three consecutive ranked opponents: No. 10 Alabama, No. 11 Texas, and No. 16 Tennessee. Fortunately, LSU will host the Crimson Tide and Longhorns, but the challenge remains steep. With all three opponents also carrying two losses, the CFP bracket could become much clearer. A third loss would put those aspirations on life support. The Tigers must get healthy and prepare for one of the toughest three-game stretches imaginable.
Key Analysis
LSU's win over Auburn and its favorable FPI metrics keep the Tigers in the playoff hunt, but the upcoming gauntlet will define their season. The SEC's depth and the nine-game schedule mean every week is a battle, and LSU's ability to emerge from the next three games will likely determine whether it secures a playoff spot or falls out of contention.