LSU football remains in contention for the College Football Playoff with its 35-6 win over Texas A&M in Week 4. The Tigers haven't played meaningful postseason football since 2019 but are one step closer to doing so after head coach Lane Kiffin guided them to the first SEC win of 2026.

Per ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) Playoff Predictor, LSU has a 39.9% chance of making the College Football Playoffs. It ranks No. 12 in the country, so the statistic has the Tigers sneaking into the playoff picture. When the Tigers won the national championship in 2019, they made the four-team bracket. They still haven't cracked the 12-team format.

Texas (89.6%), Georgia (84.3%), Alabama (72.9%) and Florida (48.9%) are the only SEC teams with better chances to make the playoffs per FPI. LSU faces the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns during the regular season. The purple and gold add ranked matchups against Mississippi State and Tennessee.

The Tigers face a slew of injuries that may affect their preparations for those top 25 games. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is dealing with a hamstring issue while safety Dashawn Spears is out for the season. Linebacker Whit Weeks and tight end Trey'Dez Green are both set to miss extended time.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: ESPN's FPI predicts LSU football's playoff chances after Week 4 win

Source: Yahoo Sports