ESPN's Paul Finebaum added to the discussion surrounding the Tigers' College Football Playoff hopes on On3's "Crain and Cone." "I don't buy much of this SEC media days 'championship or bust' that we got a lot of," Finebaum said. What makes LSU a College Football Playoff contender in 2026? Sam Leavitt was a part of one of college football's biggest turnarounds in recent memory, quarterbacking Arizona State to a College Football Playoff after a 3-9 finish in 2024. Ironically, Ole Miss is another team with a first-year head coach and College Football Playoff expectations.