The Southern Line
Urban Meyer says LSU still has a playoff path after overtime loss to Kentucky
Urban Meyer says LSU can still reach the 12-team playoff after a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky. The Tigers host Mississippi State on Saturday.
LSU's 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky on Saturday has not knocked the Tigers out of the playoff picture, according to Urban Meyer. The former Ohio State coach said three-loss teams could make this year's 12-team field.
Pro Football Network reported Meyer's comments from the latest episode of "The Triple Option" podcast. "I still think they have a shot," Meyer said. He added that he expects two or three teams with three losses to reach the playoff this season.
No three-loss team has made the expanded playoff, though two-loss teams have. Meyer's argument is that growing parity across the sport could change that in 2026. His podcast co-host Mark Ingram II disagreed. He told LSU fans he thinks the Tigers are finished for now.
The loss in Week 6 was LSU's second in SEC play. Lane Kiffin's team also lost 32-24 at Ole Miss in Week 3. Pro Football Network wrote that the LSU defense was sloppy against Kentucky and that the offense had trouble finishing drives late. Kentucky coach Will Stein and quarterback Kenneth Minchey took advantage to win in overtime. PFN ranks LSU 17th in its latest power rankings, and its Playoff Meter gives the Tigers a 10.9% chance of making the field.
Meyer said LSU's remaining SEC schedule will decide its season. Alabama, Texas and Tennessee are still to come, and Mississippi State is next.
No. 22 LSU (4-2) hosts No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1) in Baton Rouge on Saturday at noon Eastern on ESPN and Disney+. A loss to the Bulldogs would be the Tigers' third, which would leave them relying on exactly the outcome Meyer described. The market still has LSU clearly ahead despite last week's result. LSU is favored at -471 on Novig and by 13.5 points on the spread, with a total of 58.5. Among sportsbooks, the best listed price on LSU is -525 at BetMGM. Full prices are on the Mississippi State at LSU odds page.
The win moved Kentucky to 5-1 and up to No. 15. The Wildcats now go on the road to Oklahoma (3-2) for a 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff on SEC Network. Even after the upset, the market has the Sooners ahead. Oklahoma is favored at -233 on Novig and by 6.5 points, and the total is 44.5. DraftKings has the best sportsbook price on Oklahoma at -258. More on that matchup is on the Kentucky at Oklahoma odds page.
If Kentucky wins in Norman, the result in Lexington will look less like a one-week surprise. For LSU, a clean win over a ranked Mississippi State team is the first step toward testing Meyer's theory before the Alabama, Texas and Tennessee stretch.
