Sports journalists in Baton Rouge were so wrong in their predictions how the LSU football program would do this year are already starting the "silly season" commentary for the 2026 football season. After LSU's schedule was announced for the 2026 season, fans are supposed to believe that LSU's opening game with Ole Miss in Oxford will be some kind of revelation. Their reason is of course LSU's new coach Kiffin coached at Ole Miss and the Ole Miss fans will be ready to tar him.
But that one game will have no value in deciding LSU's future fate under coach Kiffin. The game is not the rival it once was, no more game week at Halloween time, that was lost years ago, no more Billy Cannon miracles or the electric atmosphere of the Dietzel, Charlie Mac and Vaught era. Alabama has been the game since Saban left LSU. Sports writers will fail in their attempt to make next year's game of LSU-Ole Miss a battle of the coaches. That silly season dog just will not hunt.
Sports writers have misjudged what has taken place within the SEC ever since the conference expanded. They paid no attention to the new kids who passed up past leaders in the SEC. It is a new ball game and the silly season comments will fail. Ever since the CFP began some 11 years ago two teams have had a consistent winning record, Alabama and Georgia. Alabama's performance may be wavering since Saban retired but Georgia is still going strong. And this year Georgia is still dominate and won another SEC championship.
So fans, sit back and enjoy the break from LSU football until next season. What takes place will be out of your hands. College football is now a mini NFL with money galore, more than enough to muddy the waters of College Football's future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
