How can LSU make the playoffs?

To make the College Football Playoffs (CFP), LSU needs a strong season, ideally winning the SEC or securing a top 7-10 at-large spot, requiring key wins against tough opponents like Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma, strong performances from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, and minimizing losses, especially to less-ranked teams, while leveraging a tough schedule and defense to impress the selection committee.

How can LSU still make the playoffs?

A win over A&M paired with a loss to Alabama and a win over Oklahoma would give LSU a 63% shot to get in according to the calculations. By any esimation, the Tigers must go 2-1 against the Aggies, Crimson Tide and Sooners, along with beating Arkansas and Western Kentucky, to possibly make the playoff.

Is LSU eliminated from the playoffs?

The LSU Tigers have officially been eliminated from CFB Playoff contention 🫠

How much will LSU owe Brian Kelly?

LSU owes former coach Brian Kelly approximately $54 million as a buyout after firing him without cause in late 2025, though the total amount could decrease if he secures new employment, as his contract includes mitigation clauses requiring him to actively seek new jobs. LSU confirmed this payout in November 2025, but it's being paid out over several years.
 

Is the LSU still bowl eligible?

Despite everything it endured during the 2025 season, LSU football will play in a bowl game. The Tigers (7-5), who fired former coach Brian Kelly in October, clinched bowl eligibility with a 23-22 win over Arkansas in November.

What LSU MUST Fix to Make the Playoff in 2025

Why is Iowa State opting out of the bowl game?

Iowa State declined their bowl game invitation primarily due to a combination of a major coaching change (Matt Campbell leaving for Penn State) and numerous player injuries, leading to a player vote against playing in the postseason to avoid further risks, a decision supported by the athletic department but resulting in a $500,000 Big 12 fine for breaking conference contracts. 

What bowl will LSU go to?

BATON ROUGE – For the second straight year, LSU is headed to the Kinder's Texas Bowl in Houston, the Southeastern Conference announced on Sunday. The Tigers (7-5) will face No. 21-ranked Houston (9-3) from the Big 12.

How much did Alabama pay Kalen DeBoer?

Alabama pays Kalen DeBoer a starting salary of $10 million in 2024, with annual raises, culminating in $11.75 million in the final year of his eight-year, $87 million contract that runs through 2031, making his average annual compensation around $10.875 million before bonuses. 

Who is the lowest paid coach in the SEC?

The lowest-paid SEC football coach for the 2025 season is Clark Lea of Vanderbilt, earning around $3.7 million, making him the only SEC coach with a salary under $4 million, according to recent compensation surveys. While Vanderbilt's salaries aren't always public, data from sources like the USA Today confirms Lea's position at the bottom of the conference's pay scale. 

Who paid for Brian Kelly's buyout?

LSU is paying Brian Kelly's approximately $54 million buyout, with reports indicating it's primarily funded by self-generated athletic department revenue and private donations, not state taxpayer money, following a lawsuit from Kelly after his firing in late 2025. A significant portion of the funds is reportedly coming from one large, anonymous private donor, according to WDSU. 

Why did Tyrann Mathieu get kicked off LSU?

Tyrann Mathieu was kicked off the LSU Tigers football team in August 2012 by coach Les Miles for repeated violations of the university's substance abuse policy, including failing multiple drug tests and an arrest for marijuana possession, leading to his dismissal from the program. 

Who is Alabama's worst rival?

Alabama's biggest rival is overwhelmingly considered to be Auburn, with their annual "Iron Bowl" game being one of the most intense rivalries in American sports, though the historical rivalry with Tennessee ("The Third Saturday in October") is also deeply significant, with LSU also emerging as a major modern rival. While Auburn is the fiercest, Tennessee offers the most historic continuous rivalry, and LSU has become a huge modern rivalry due to recent high-stakes matchups. 

What was Brian Kelly's winning percentage at LSU?

Kelly's final win with LSU came at home against South Carolina. He leaves with a 34-14 overall record and a 70.8% win percentage.

Is LSU still paying Coach O?

Yes, LSU was still paying Ed Orgeron his buyout in late 2025, but his final installment was scheduled for December 15, 2025, meaning he should be off LSU's payroll by early 2026 as the full ~$17 million buyout was paid out over four years after his 2021 departure, according to The Advocate and Bleacher Report reports.
 

Is Ohio State eliminated?

Yes, the Ohio State Buckeyes football team has been eliminated from the College Football Playoff (CFP) after losing to the Miami Hurricanes in the CFP quarterfinals (Cotton Bowl) on December 30, 2025, ending their bid to repeat as national champions and shifting focus to the 2026 season and transfer portal.
 

Does Notre Dame get $14 million CFP payout as an independent?

Yes, Notre Dame secured a significant $14 million payout from the College Football Playoff (CFP) as an independent for reaching the semifinals, keeping the entire amount because they don't share with a conference like Big Ten or SEC teams do, making their individual payout much larger than their conference-aligned peers. This windfall highlights the financial benefits of Notre Dame's unique independent status in college football, allowing them to retain substantial earnings from their postseason success. 

What is Jeff Walz's salary?

Jeff Walz's salary as the Louisville women's basketball coach was around $1.75 million for the 2023-24 season, under a contract extended through 2028-29 that includes annual $50,000 increases, reaching $2 million in the final year, with additional bonuses for success like winning ACC titles or the NCAA Championship. 

How much does Tony Vitello make a year?

Tony Vitello's salary jumped significantly when he became the San Francisco Giants' manager in late 2025, earning well over his previous $3 million annual salary at Tennessee, with reports suggesting figures like $3.5 million or more, making him one of the highest-paid first-year MLB managers ever, despite a potential pay cut from his record-setting college contract. His Tennessee deal (signed 2024) made him the first college coach over $3M, with base pay, large supplemental income from endorsements, and bonuses for postseason success, but his new MLB role significantly raised his earnings.
 

Who is the highest-paid SEC coach?

1. Georgia HC Kirby Smart - $13.28 Million. Smart took over his alma mater for the 2016 season and has turned it into a college football powerhouse. Under Smart, Georgia has won two national titles (2021 and 2022), appeared in three National Championships and won 11-plus games in eight seasons.

What is Jan Jensen's salary?

Jan Jensen, the head women's basketball coach at the University of Iowa, has a base salary of $850,000 annually, with potential for significant bonuses and performance-based raises, adding to her total earnings through her contract which runs through 2029.
 

Who is Kalen DeBoer's wife?

DeBoer is married to his wife Nicole. They have two daughters. Their daughter Alexis plays softball at Washington.

What did Washington offer Kalen DeBoer?

Dannen told The Times following Thursday's luncheon that DeBoer and agent Jimmy Sexton did not counter UW's $9.4 million annual offer, opting instead for Alabama.

Why are Clemson and LSU playing in Death Valley?

Both Clemson and LSU call their stadiums "Death Valley" due to intimidating atmospheres, but Clemson's claim is older, originating in the 1940s when Presbyterian Coach Lonnie McMillian called Clemson's home field "Death Valley" after repeated losses; LSU's Tiger Stadium was initially called "Deaf Valley" due to loud crowds, with the name shifting to "Death Valley" after LSU beat Clemson in the 1959 Sugar Bowl, creating a playful rivalry over the moniker.
 

How many LSU players are in the Super Bowl 2025?

Two former LSU Tigers – defensive back Andre' Sam and running back Ty Davis-Price - will look to win a Super Bowl ring on Sunday when the Chiefs face the Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Did Jayden Daniels opt out of the bowl game?

Wisconsin. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers on Jan. 1, he announced on social media Monday. It marks the end of Daniels' collegiate career, where he spent the last two seasons at LSU.