In college sports, even when the season ends, things never stop moving.
Especially with the transfer portal becoming the predominant form of team-building in recent years, you’d be forgiven if you’d missed some big news over the offseason.
In each of LSU’s fall sports, significant changes have been made as each team attempts to improve on last season’s performance.
Here’s an overview on what each team has been up to over the offseason:
Football
In a season rife with change for LSU football, one of the biggest changes comes off the field—or, rather, surrounding the field.
Tiger Stadium is undergoing renovation and will have a new video board that measures as one of the largest in the country.
In addition, the stadium has been outfitted with LED-light show capability. All of this is in honor of the stadium’s 100-year anniversary, which LSU will celebrate throughout the season.
As far as the team goes, LSU dismissed the entirety of its defensive staff and is now implementing a new scheme under coordinator Blake Baker.
The offense wasn’t immune to change, either, as the unit is ushering in a new starting quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier, a new coordinator in Joe Sloan, and relying on different wideouts and running backs with the departure of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. (NFL) and Logan Diggs (transfer to Ole Miss).
LSU will seemingly have incoming transfers starting at wide receiver (CJ Daniels from Liberty) and safety (Jardin Gilbert from Texas A&M), but there are a number of newcomers that will be in the mix.
Throughout fall camp, it’s become clear that LSU has much better depth across the defense than in the past and will be utilizing many different players.
Also new for the team is the announcement of linebacker Greg Penn III and running back Josh Williams as the recipients of the No. 18 jersey and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. as the No. 7 recipient.
The No. 18 jersey typically represents the leaders of the team, while the No. 7 represents electric playmakers.
Women’s basketball
The women’s basketball team said goodbye to star forward Angel Reese, now making headlines in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky. Reese was a pivotal part of the revitalization of the program, but now the team turns over a new leaf.
Former starting point guard Hailey Van Lith has also departed the program, leaving the remaining LSU players to step into bigger roles.
Junior guard Flau’jae Johnson, sophomore guard Mikaylah Williams and senior forward Aneesah Morrow will likely lead the way.
Forward Sa’Myah Smith will also return from an ACL injury to shore up the front court. But, the biggest question for the team will be at the point guard position.
Junior Last Tear-Poa could hold it down, but LSU added three transfers—Kailyn Gilbert from Miami, Shayeann Day-Wilson from Arizona and Mjracle Sheppard from Mississippi State—who could all potentially play there.
Men’s basketball
LSU men’s basketball is coming off a solid season, sneaking into the National Invitational Tournament in head coach Matt McMahon’s second year.
Now, the team is expected to make the step into NCAA Tournament contention, despite three starters graduating.
McMahon added several new assistant coaches and brought in a number of potential impact players from the transfer portal in Jordan Sears, Cam Carter and Dji Bailey.
In addition, LSU had its highest-ranked recruiting class since 2021 with the No. 14 class, per 247Sports.
That class includes three four-star recruits who each offer skillsets that could potentially impact the team immediately.
Consistent offense eluded LSU last year, but the team is hopeful it added enough supplementary shooting and scoring and that junior forward Tyrell Ward is ready to step into a star role.
Women’s soccer
LSU women’s soccer opened up its season with a 3-0 victory over South Alabama on August 15.
After coming off an 8-8-4 season in 2023 and finishing 10th in the SEC, the Tigers got to work in the offseason, bringing in new faces from around the country.
Defender Jazmin Ferguson, a junior transfer from East Carolina University, was named a top defender to watch this season by United Soccer Coaches. She made a statement in her first game with LSU by heading in a goal off a corner kick.
Ferguson was also named to the SEC Soccer Preseason Watchlist along with midfielder Ida Hermannsdóttir, forward Mollie Baker, defender Sydney Cheesman and forward/midfielder Ava Galligan.
Cheesman transferred to LSU in December from UNC and is a versatile defender who creates scoring opportunities. In her first game in the purple and gold, Cheesman assisted a goal and played 69 minutes.
Head coach Sian Hudson not only brought in strong transfers, but recruited ten freshmen in the 2028 class. Four of these freshmen played in LSU’s opening game.
This team, combined with awarded returners and promising recruits, will fight every week to earn their way to the SEC Tournament, aiming to go further than the first round.
Volleyball
LSU volleyball took a step back last season in head coach Tonya Johnson’s second year and had a number of players transfer out.
However, the important pieces like star sophomore outside hitter Jurnee Robinson are still in place.
The roster is also now almost entirely handpicked by Johnson, with just one player remaining from previous head coach Fran Flory’s tenure.
That provides an opportunity for Johnson to have full ownership of this team, but also full accountability. This season is a pivotal one to prove that the program is headed in the right direction.
LSU added a large recruiting class that was ranked No. 19 in the country by PrepDig. Several freshmen are expected to compete for playing time, most prominently outside hitter Lainee Pyles and defensive specialist Aly Kirkhoff.
The Tigers also added several transfers, like graduate setter Bailey Ortega, who’ll provide much-needed depth and leadership to a young team.
—
In addition to the above headlines, the men’s golf team also hired the lone incoming head coach of LSU’s fall sports in Jake Amos.
Amos was formerly at East Tennessee State, where he led the program to four Southern Conference championships and four appearances at the NCAA championships, including a 12th place finish in 2024.
