Could drama tank Lane Kiffin's first season at LSU?

New LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin may love the attention his program is receiving, but it could come at a price.

On Wednesday, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman published his survey, featuring thoughts from 18 coaches, to predict the 2026 college football season. Many think all the drama at LSU will create too many distractions, causing the school to flop. 

Why coaches think LSU will fail to meet expectations in 2026 

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook gives No. 11 LSU +1700 odds to win the national title. Not one coach in Feldman's poll, however, predicted the Tigers to win the championship. The No. 2 Oregon Ducks received the most votes in that category (six). Seven of the coaches picked LSU as the biggest fraud or most overhyped team, the most in the poll. 

"I think all of the things that are happening around LSU are gonna be too much of a distraction," a Mountain West coach told Feldman. 

Chief among them is the school's attempt to add NFL players to its roster after they failed to make a team's 53-man roster in preseason and training camp. This group includes former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright and former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Zxavian Harris. Kiffin said Monday that the team has supported those moves. 

The SEC has already passed legislation to prohibit Wright, Harris and others from competing and is preparing for a potential legal battle. Tennessee Volunteers chancellor Donde Plowman told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Tuesday night that the rule is one it won't "budge on."