This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
LSU soccer enters 2026 season ranked for the first time
The LSU women’s soccer team enters the 2026 season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason top 25 for the first time in program history. The Tigers enter the season ranked 16 th , which matches where they were ranked in some polls when the 2025 season finished. LSU has appeared in one other preseason top 25, the 2013 Top Drawer Soccer preseason poll, but the United Soccer Coaches poll is the major poll that gets used in national headlines.
SEC coaches picked LSU to finish fourth in the conference in 2026 behind Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Georgia, but the national coaches ranked LSU three spots ahead of Georgia. The Tigers play Alabama in an exhibition match tomorrow at 7:00 at the LSU Soccer Stadium, and admission is free. LSU’s regular season begins at Wake Forest on August 12 at 6:00 p.m. on ACCNx. The rest of the preseason top 25 is below.