LSU opens season vs. Leach, Mississippi State


Defending national champion LSU will kick off the season at home against Mississippi State and new coach Mike Leach.

The SEC revealed the league’s Sept. 26 season-opening games on Monday afternoon.

The remainder of the 10-game, league-only schedule will be revealed Monday at 7 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in the preseason coaches poll and coming off a 15-0 season. Leach was hired in January to coach the Bulldogs after eight seasons at Washington State (2012-19) and 10 seasons at Texas Tech (2000-09).

Three other first-year SEC coaches also face daunting debut challenges. Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri will host No. 3 Alabama, while Arkansas and Sam Pittman host No. 4 Georgia. Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss will have a home game against No. 8 Florida.

The other openers pit Kentucky at No. 11 Auburn, Tennessee at South Carolina and Vanderbilt at No. 13 Texas A&M.