BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU and its boosters paid for the roster. The fans bought the tickets and into the hype. Now it’s time for Lane Kiffin to deliver a signature win.
Just outside of Tiger Stadium on a Friday afternoon, the expensive RV’s started making their way into the coveted spots that will host a full day of tailgating before the showdown against No. 6 Texas that is a must-win for an LSU team on the brink of playoff elimination.
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The pressure of a game that will determine whether Kiffin faces a very long offseason of reflection was not part of the story some envisioned just two months ago, when potential Tigers sat inside a Baton Rouge courtroom trying to convince a judge to let them join a football team practicing just a few miles away.
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We got to this point thanks to a 31-13 beating that came at the hands of Alabama last weekend in this same town, which sent fans into a frenzy around the prospects of not making the postseason.
I don’t think anyone could rationally say that they expected Lane Kiffin to win a national championship in his first season as head coach at LSU.
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I would wholeheartedly agree that the Tigers should not be in this current predicament with a roster that costs over $40 million, and a coaching staff that hovers around $100 million in total.
People are watching, though, whether that be to see the downfall of Kiffin or who he gets off the bus with for the Tiger Walk into a historic stadium that has been home to a number of letdowns in recent years for an LSU team that was the talk of this offseason.
Oh, and if you think the hype for this football squad came from those outside the state of Louisiana, you might need to check the press clippings. LSU knew exactly what is was doing in every move made that started with Kiffin boarding a private jet in Oxford last December.
There will be no sympathy given for a football program that has seen Governor Jeff Landry and President Wade Rousse stoke the flames of this Kiffin era in Baton Rouge. But, it’s not as if LSU officials are looking for it, though.
Every person associated with the buildup to this 2026 season played a part in where we currently sit, with Texas looking to come into Tiger Stadium and put the final nail in this first-year coffin.
It also just happens to be Louisiana native Arch Manning that will get off the bus on Saturday evening and walk into a hostile crowd in hopes of sending this fan base into a full-blown meltdown.
Remember, though, LSU wanted to be the villains in this cinematic experience that we have witnessed play out over the past eleven months. But, if there ever was a time for the bad guys to get a win over the babyface, that would be tonight against a Texas team looking to clinch its own spot in the CFP.
“Nope, I surely didn’t think this would be the case,” Andy, from New Orleans, told OutKick. “Don’t get me wrong, Kiffin will win at LSU with the resources he has at his disposal. Well, he better win with that amount of money, I should say.
“It’s year one, things happen. But if you’re asking if I’m frustrated that we have three losses and Alabama tore us up in the fourth quarter last week, sure I am. Look at all the other teams that are struggling though. Heck, Ohio State got destroyed last week. Texas A&M wasted all that money on its roster. And, I’ve already been hit up for donations in 2027. We’re in this for the long haul, but we could use a big win tonight.”
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The tents were being setup on Friday afternoon, a lot of them with Raising Cane’s signage that is scattered throughout the tailgate scene.
If you’re wondering why, that would center around owner Todd Graves being a major donor for the LSU athletic department. The money that was needed to piece together this expensive 2026 roster, a nice chunk of that came from the guy who has perfected the chicken tenders chain that continues opening stores across the country.
But, there were plenty of other significant donations made by boosters with ties to the LSU program who are looking for a return on their investment. It’s not as if the Tigers can just use local hospitals or something to increase their revenue pool, Kiffin has to do his part in raising the money needed to compete.
Now, that comes more by telephone than actual donor retreats or a weekly sit-down with influential people with money to spend.
In most cases, though, the financial part of LSU’s football program comes from the love each booster has for a program with such a rich tradition, even if they have to watch highlights of the 2019 season to fill their cup as of late.
Saturday night, the Tigers will take to the field in Baton Rouge for the final time this season in hopes of keeping their playoff hopes alive. A win against No. 6 Texas would be the first part. Next week, LSU travels to No. 8 Tennessee in what has the chance to be a dangerous atmosphere that could also be for a spot in the CFP (Vols need to beat Texas A&M).
The final act would come against an Arkansas team that has struggled to look competitive for most of this season.
If, and that’s a big if, LSU can win the next three games to conclude the regular season, they will have a very strong argument for making the playoff with three losses.
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But, with Steve Sarkisian leading this Texas football team into Tiger Stadium with a ferocious defense and Arch Manning having more of a swagger to him, the Longhorns could add fuel to the already simmering nightmare that would have LSU participating in a meaningless bowl game around New Years Eve.
After last week’s gut-wrenching loss to Alabama, it’s time for Lane Kiffin to provide LSU fans with an early Christmas present to thank them for helping fund his new life in Baton Rouge.
If he doesn’t, I’d imagine a few bags of coal will somehow appear on his doorstep this holiday season, and there might not be much to be thankful for when the Turkey is taken out of the oven in two weeks.
Tiger fans are searching for more than just social media clicks and red-zone execution excuses from their football program.
They expect a win tonight.
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