You've probably woken up, grabbed your coffee, and checked the calendar thinking it's a perfect day for some Death Valley magic. But if you’re asking is lsu playing football today, I have to be the bearer of some slightly boring news: No, the LSU Tigers are not on the field today, Sunday, January 18, 2026.
It's that weird limbo time in the sports world. We are officially in the "portal and playoffs" phase of the year. While the NFL is tearing through the divisional round this weekend, the college landscape is mostly quiet unless you're a fan of Indiana or Miami, who are currently prepping for the National Championship game tomorrow night. For LSU, the 2025 campaign wrapped up back in December with a tough 38-35 loss to Houston in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl.
Is LSU playing football today or anytime soon?
Honestly, the pads won't popping for real until the fall. The 2026 season opener is set for September 5, and it's a massive one against Clemson right there in Tiger Stadium. Between now and then, "playing football" mostly means guys in shorts and T-shirts doing drills during spring practice, which usually kicks off in March.
If you are a die-hard looking for a fix, today is actually a huge day for the future of the roster rather than a game on the grass. We are currently in the heat of the transfer portal window. While you won't see any touchdowns today, the coaching staff—now led by Lane Kiffin after a wild coaching carousel—is basically playing a high-stakes game of "Roster Tetris."
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The 2026 LSU Football Schedule (The Long Wait)
Since we know there isn't a game today, let's look at what we actually have to look forward to. The SEC recently dropped the full 2026 slate, and it's a gauntlet.
- Sept 5: Clemson (Home)
- Sept 12: Louisiana Tech (Home)
- Sept 19: at Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)
- Sept 26: Texas A&M (Home)
- Oct 3: McNeese State (Home)
- Oct 10: at Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
- Oct 17: Mississippi State (Home)
- Oct 24: at Auburn (Auburn, AL)
- Nov 7: Alabama (Home)
- Nov 14: Texas (Home)
- Nov 21: at Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)
- Nov 28: at Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
Notice that November stretch? Playing Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas back-to-back is basically a dare from the SEC scheduling office. It’s brutal.
What's happening in Baton Rouge right now?
Even though the answer to is lsu playing football today is a firm "no," the program is arguably the busiest it's been in years. The "Kiffin Effect" is real. LSU currently holds the No. 1 ranked transfer portal class in the country for 2026.
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Just this week, the Tigers landed Sam Leavitt, a standout quarterback from Arizona State who is expected to compete for the starting job immediately. They also picked up wide receiver Jackson Harris from Hawaii. Harris is a monster on the deep ball; he had five touchdowns of over 60 yards last season.
There's also some drama today specifically. Yesterday, January 17, saw a massive wave of portal visits. Safety Faheem Delane—brother of Tigers star Mansoor Delane—was on campus. Most insiders expect him to sign any minute now. Also, keep an eye on offensive lineman Alio Bah from Maryland; he was scheduled to visit Baton Rouge today. If LSU wants to survive that November schedule I mentioned, they need bodies on the offensive line.
Why fans keep checking the schedule
It’s easy to get confused. Between the new 12-team playoff format and the expanded SEC, the calendar feels like it never ends. In years past, if LSU wasn't in a New Year's Day bowl, you just tuned out until spring. Now? Every Saturday in January feels like it could have a game because of how the playoffs are structured.
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But since LSU didn't make the cut for the 12-team bracket this year, the focus has shifted entirely to 2026. The goal is clearly to ensure that next year, on this exact Sunday in January, the answer to is lsu playing football today might actually be "Yes, in the semifinals."
Final word for the Tiger faithful
Don't let the lack of a game today get you down. The recruiting trail is providing more fireworks than most mid-season games anyway. The coaching staff is rebuilding the defense from the ground up, and the influx of talent from the portal is staggering.
If you're looking for something to watch today, keep an eye on the NFL playoffs. You'll see plenty of former Tigers like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson (depending on which teams are still alive in your specific 2026 timeline) doing exactly what they used to do on Saturday nights in Baton Rouge.
Your next steps for staying updated:
- Check the LSU Sports official site or Dandy Don’s for the latest portal "BOOM" announcements, as signings are happening almost hourly right now.
- Mark your calendar for the Spring Game in April—that's the first time you'll actually see the new-look Tigers in uniform.
- Keep an eye on the Monday Night National Championship between Indiana and Miami to see what the benchmark for a title contender looks like this season.