The big picture

Tennessee Volunteers come in 8th on the ladder; LSU Tigers are 21st. Tennessee Volunteers have the higher position to protect.

Tennessee Volunteers are 7–2 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 32.4 points for and 15.1 against.

LSU Tigers are 6–3 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 37.1 points for and 17.7 against.

Form

Tennessee Volunteers have won four of their last five and most recently beat Kentucky Wildcats 34–6.

LSU Tigers have won three of their last five and most recently lost to Alabama Crimson Tide 13–31.

Head to head

These sides have met 2 times on our records since 2017: Tennessee Volunteers 1, LSU Tigers 1.

Last time out (2022, Week 6), Tennessee Volunteers won 40–13 at Tiger Stadium (LA).

Players to watch

For Tennessee Volunteers, watch Elijah Herring (6 def total tackles a game in 2023) and Aaron Beasley (5.3 def total tackles a game in 2023).

For LSU Tigers, watch Andre' Sam (6.5 def total tackles a game in 2023) and Omar Speights (6 def total tackles a game in 2023).

At Neyland Stadium

Tennessee Volunteers have won 18 of their last 23 at Neyland Stadium.

The deeper numbers

LSU Tigers are college football's best third-quarter side in 2026: +8.3 points a game in third quarters.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Tennessee Volunteers go in as clear favourites.