# LSU Rises Multiple Sports in AP Top 25

> LSU climbs to No. 18 in AP Top 25 after beating Mississippi State 31-0.
- Title: LSU Rises Multiple Sports in AP Top 25 · LSU Tigers On SI
- Summary: LSU climbs to No. 18 in AP Top 25 after beating Mississippi State 31-0. LSU moves to No. 18 in AP Top 25 with a 31-0 win over Mississippi State, keeping…
- Keywords: lsu, ap top 25, college football, mississippi state, college football playoff, sec, auburn, alabama, texas, kentucky, ole miss, byu
- Source: LSU Tigers On SI — https://si.com/college/lsu/football/lsu-rises-multiple-sports-in-latest-ap-top-25
- Published: 2026-10-19T14:52:53+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lsu, ap top 25, college football, mississippi state, college football playoff, sec, auburn, alabama, texas, kentucky, ole miss, byu
## LSU's AP Top 25 Position
LSU climbed four spots to No. 18 in Sunday's Associated Press Top 25 after beating Mississippi State 31-0.
## LSU's Record and Playoff Hopes
At 5-2, LSU still needs a strong finish to reach the College Football Playoff.
## SEC Contenders' Vulnerability
After five of the nation's top seven teams lost Saturday, the Tigers have more company among contenders with results to explain.
## SEC Cannibalism
The SEC is wide open because its contenders keep knocking one another down.
## LSU's Defensible Losses
Ole Miss beat the Tigers 32-24 in Oxford before losing 52-28 at Florida.
## Florida's Context
Florida has beaten Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas, with Texas beating Tennessee which defeated Alabama 26-10.
## LSU's Losses
Alabama also has two losses. So does Texas. Georgia’s unbeaten record disappeared against an unranked opponent.
## LSU's Road Losses
Both LSU losses came on the road against teams now ranked in the top 12.
## Saturday's Win
Mississippi State entered ranked No. 16, and LSU shut it out.
## LSU's Next Games
The Tigers visit Auburn next, then face Alabama and Texas at home before closing with trips to Tennessee and Arkansas.
## 10-2 Finish
Winning all five would put LSU at 10-2, with victories over several teams competing for the same postseason opportunities.
## 9-3 Finish
Finishing 9-3 would leave LSU dependent on considerably more help.
## AP Poll vs. Playoff Selection
The AP poll does not select the playoff field. The selection committee’s first rankings arrive Nov. 3.
## Beyond SEC
Miami took No. 1 after surviving unranked Florida State 43-35 in double overtime.
## Key takeaway

LSU moves to No. 18 in AP Top 25 with a 31-0 win over Mississippi State, keeping playoff hopes alive despite two losses.