LSU Tigers' Playoff Hopes Dwindle After Heartbreaking Loss to Ole Miss

As of October 4th, 2025, the LSU Tigers football team finds itself at a crossroads. After a promising 4-1 start to the season, the No. 13-ranked Tigers have seen their College Football Playoff aspirations take a hit following a heartbreaking loss to then-No. 11 Ole Miss last week.

The Tigers' offense has been a major concern, ranking 13th in the SEC in scoring at just 27 points per game. Their running game has been particularly inefficient, raising questions about whether LSU can truly make a push for the playoff.

With a bye week to regroup, head coach Brian Kelly and his staff will need to find solutions quickly. The Tigers' upcoming schedule features a daunting stretch, including back-to-back ranked matchups against No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 5 Texas A&M. Winning those games will be crucial if LSU hopes to keep its postseason aspirations alive.

As the Tigers enter the second half of the season, their 23% chance to make the 12-team College Football Playoff, according to ESPN's predictor, hangs in the balance. The next few weeks will be pivotal in determining whether LSU can bounce back and salvage its playoff hopes or if the team's early-season promise will ultimately fall short.