Is LSU out of the CFP? Lane Kiffin era gets rocky with OT loss to unranked Kentucky

Is LSU out of the CFP? Lane Kiffin era gets rocky with OT loss to unranked Kentucky originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The LSU Tigers are officially 0-2 on the road in the SEC so far in 2026, losing 35-34 in Week 6. On Saturday night, the Tigers went on the road to take on a 4-1 Kentucky team that had already upset then-No. 9 Texas A&M earlier this season.

LSU was favored, but the Tigers had to go into a tough environment in Lexington. The Wildcats pulled off a huge upset over LSU in overtime, as Kentucky head coach Will Stein called a two-point conversion in OT for the second week in a row. Last week, he went for two in overtime against South Carolina and won 35-34.

Here’s an up-close look at the Tigers’ remaining College Football Playoff chances now that LSU is holding two losses. 

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Is LSU out of the CFP? 

LSU is not out of the CFP just yet, as two losses do not knock a team out of the postseason. The Tigers have quality wins over the likes of Clemson and Texas A&M, with a loss to then-No. 8 Ole Miss on the road.

While the loss to Kentucky, which entered this one unranked, hurts LSU’s chances, the Tigers are not out. The committee will view the Wildcats as a solid SEC team. Kentucky is now 5-1, with a road victory over Texas A&M earlier this season, a win over South Carolina and a 45-17 loss to ranked Alabama, which the Wildcats actually led at halftime.

But LSU cannot afford to lose another game this season if it wants to make the playoff.

MORE: Oregon’s playoff hopes also dashed by upset loss

LSU loss to Kentucky 

Saturday night’s game was a thriller, with Kentucky leading 21-17 at halftime. LSU took a 27-24 lead with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Roman Mothershed with 9:42 left. Kentucky could have tied it twice, but kicker Adam Zougai missed field goal attempts of 42 and 26 yards. 

But Kentucky’s defense forced an LSU punt with 1:37 left, and the Wildcats drove down to field to set up a 33-yard field goal, which Zougai made. 

In overtime, LSU got the ball first. Leavitt and the Tigers struck first, as the signal-caller rushed it in for a 15-yard touchdown. 

Sam Leavitt runs it in to give LSU the LEAD in OT pic.twitter.com/8w7yEJhjWs

— wok (@wokdior) October 11, 2026

Kentucky scored a touchdown on its ensuing possession, set up by a 22-yard pass by Kenny Minchey on 3rd-and-8. Following the rushing touchdown by CJ Baxter, Kentucky’s first-year head coach took another huge gamble, as he did last week vs. South Carolina. Instead of going for two, he opted to go for two and the win. At first, he put Wildcat receiver Willie Rodriguez in to take a direct snap. He then called a timeout, although it appeared as though Kentucky got away with a false start. 

The officials did throw a flag, but they granted Stein the timeout before the penalty was called. Kiffin was irate at the officials. 

The moment that has all LSU fans going further through IT right now.

The false start on Kentucky NOT called.

Man, oh man! https://t.co/jvNvBgzT37pic.twitter.com/eH8N8TMdrg

— The Whole Delivery (@TWDTV1) October 11, 2026

After the timeout, Stein put Minchey back in, who rushed it in for the successful two-point score and the win: 

KENTUCKY UPSETS LSU pic.twitter.com/6zoN5EeDAF

— College Football Report (@CFBReport) October 11, 2026

LSU remaining schedule

Here’s a look at LSU’s remaining schedule. As you can see, there are several tough games ahead, including a tough stretch in November:

• Oct. 17: Vs. No. 17 Mississippi State
• Oct. 24: at Auburn
• Nov. 7: Vs. No. 6 Alabama
• Nov. 14: Vs. No. 1 Texas
• Nov. 21: At No. 15 Tennessee
• Nov. 28: At Arkansas

Lane Kiffin contract details

Lane Kiffin was hired by LSU last December. He signed a seven-year contract with the Tigers, worth $91 million. He is making $13 million in 2026, making him the third-highest paid coach in the country per On3Sports. 

For a program that hired Kiffin to get LSU into the playoff as soon as this season, that fate looks dicey in early October already. 

What a huge victory for Stein, whose team made college football history as the first to ever win back-to-back teams to win consecutive games by one point in overtime. 

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