Is LSU out of the CFP? No. 14 Tigers' loss to Alabama creates uphill climb for Lane Kiffin

Is LSU out of the CFP? No. 14 Tigers' loss to Alabama creates uphill climb for Lane Kiffin originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

First-year LSU head coach Lane Kiffin was hired to take the Tigers to the College Football Playoff.

That might be an uphill battle for him in 2026, as LSU suffered its third loss of the season to Alabama on Saturday. The Crimson Tide went into Baton Rouge and pulled out a massively impressive 31-13 win.

Now that the Tigers have three losses, let's take a look at whether or not LSU can make it into the playoff with just a few weeks left in the regular season.

MORE: Lane Kiffin leads star-studded 'Tiger Walk' featuring Shaq, Angel Reese before LSU vs. Alabama

Is LSU out of the CFP?

That remains to be seen at the moment, but it doesn't look great as things stand right now. Before the loss to LSU, the Tigers entered with just a 51.7% chance to make the CFP per ESPN's Football Power Index. The Tigers checked in at 14th in the initial CFP rankings, which would already put LSU outside of the Top-12.

A loss to Alabama sounds like it should knock the Tigers out completely, but LSU still has a slight path with its games so far and remaining opponents.

MORE:How Bear Bachmeier's 4-interception day doomed BYU in Holy War loss to Utah

LSU CFP Resume

LSU has wins over unranked, power-conference opponents in Clemson and LSU at home. In the SEC, the Tigers have just one road win over Auburn, as well as home wins over Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

The Tigers also have the 32-24 Week 3 road loss to Ole Miss in a game that came down to the last play, as well as a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky. The Wildcats were unranked at the time, but are now No. 7 in the country.

Outside of Clemson, the non-conference wins over Louisiana Tech and McNeese State won't move the needle much for the committee. Auburn on the road and Mississippi State at home. LSU's loss to Alabama marked the Tigers' first at home all season.

MORE:Illinois' Bret Bielema rails against CFP committee in latest chapter of Big Ten-SEC feud

LSU remaining schedule

The good news for LSU is that the Tigers have two big resume-building wins still remaining on its schedule. LSU still has to play Top-15 teams in Texas at home on Nov. 14, and it will go on the road to play No. 13 Tennessee on the 21st. LSU finishes with Arkansas on the road. The Vols are currently playing Kentucky at home this week.

If LSU defeats both the Longhorns and Vols and wins the rest of its games convincingly, there is a potential argument to be made for LSU to make it in come December. Not to mention teams in front of LSU could fall eventually, such as Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Per FPI, LSU has the No. 3 overall remaining strength of schedule, which also gives the Tigers a boost.

It's also clear that since the committee ranked Alabama fifth in the nation despite its two losses that it thinks Alabama is a very good team.

According to AAllstate's Playoff Predictor, LSU has a 73% chance to make the CFP with wins over Texas and Tennessee, and winning out over Arkansas, as well. That's also if the Tigers fail to make the SEC title game, which is already expected. That same predictor had a three-loss team with a 95% chance to make the CFP entering Saturday.

Kiffin's team might not be dead yet, but it has to win out from here.

MORE:'The perfect villains': How Miami ruled the 1980s and reveled in Notre Dame rivalry