Lane Kiffin hasn’t “thought twice” about his decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU.

He said as much this week on the Brandon Walker College Football Show, sitting at 6-2 and 15th in the AP poll despite a roster that was somewhat hastily constructed because many of Kiffin’s assistants were with the Rebels during a College Football Playoff run.

“We didn't know our current players on the team previous,” Kiffin said. “So as crazy as it sounds, we will always have better rosters than we do this year. And I know that sounds crazy because we have one of the best. But that's just gonna be the case.

“By the way that we recruit, the way that we (evaluate), and the players that wanna come to LSU that, at times, at other places, you weren't able to get.”

Kiffin is feeling confident eight games into his LSU tenure. How should the Tigers feel about their performance with a pivotal November standing between them and the CFP?

Let’s dish out some grades, position by position.

Quarterbacks: B+

Sam Leavitt, who missed his first spring at LSU following season-ending foot surgery in the fall, needed time to settle in. He was too quick to scramble early on and, even if some bad luck was involved, he threw eight picks in his first six games.

But things are starting to click for the Arizona State transfer. Leavitt has completed 75% of his passes in his last five contests, and he has nine touchdowns to just one pick in his last three outings. He leads the SEC in passing yards with 2,173.

If he stays in rhythm, he could easily have an A by season’s end.

Running backs: B+

Dilin Jones has been LSU’s workhorse. Not only does the Wisconsin transfer have 657 yards rushing but he also has 217 receiving and remains a plus pass protector.

It’s typical for one back to carry the load in Kiffin’s offense, but it is slightly disappointing LSU hasn’t found a reliable complement to Jones. Harlem Berry and Stacy Gage totaled 235 yards versus McNeese State but have combined for 133 the rest of the year.

Caden Durham, who had just 36 yards on the year, was LSU’s No. 2 back versus Auburn.

Receivers/tight ends: B+

Tight end Trey’Dez Green was on pace for a breakout season before he was shelved by a knee injury. He’s had at least 50 yards in all four of his games this season, including his return versus Auburn last weekend.

In Green’s absence, wideout Jackson Harris has emerged, racking up 517 of his 634 yards over the last month. Those are two major positives for a receiving corps that has room to grow. Winston Watkins has 487 yards but has dropped some passes.

Offensive line: B

LSU’s offensive line doesn’t receive glowing marks from Pro Football Focus. Only center Braelin Moore ranks in the top 50 at his position with a season grade of 70.9. The average of the Tigers’ front five is a 62.2, including a 65.3 from left tackle Jordan Seaton.

While this hasn’t been an overly dominant unit, LSU ranks fifth in the SEC in both sacks allowed (13) and rushing yards per game (192). That’s a massive improvement for a program that ranked dead-last in the SEC in rushing in 2025.

Defensive line: A-

Kiffin wants edge rushers who can change a game with a quarterback takedown, and Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross have been worth the investment.

Umanmielen is second in the SEC with 8.5 sacks, along with a team-high 12 tackles for loss. Ross has five sacks to go with 9.5 TFLs. Both have 29 quarterback pressures.

Deuce Geralds, a freshman, has flashed the most on the interior with 25 tackles, five sacks and five TFLs. Kiffin wants to see more consistency inside, but LSU is tops in the SEC in rush defense, allowing 83.4 yards per game. They’ve been good enough.

Linebackers: A-

Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery had the makings of one of the top linebacker duos in the country, but Weeks went down with a lower-leg injury versus Texas A&M.

Dottery, though, has kept pace with a team-high 60 tackles. He has an 85.9 defensive grade from PFF, which ranks 20th nationally among linebackers.

Davhon Keys doesn’t offer as much as Weeks in coverage, but he’s been a solid run-stopper with 43 tackles.

Secondary: A-

LSU hasn’t always been tested because Clemson, Texas A&M and Auburn aren’t elite passing teams, and Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey had some success in the Tigers’ road losses.

But LSU ranks fifth in the SEC and 28th nationally with seven interceptions, as well as 19th in the country in pass defense, allowing just under 173 yards per contest.

Sophomore DJ Pickett is not only a unique cover corner at 6-foot-4 but has also been physical in run support. Safety Ty Benefield has been versatile, featuring in the tackle box with Dashawn Spears out. Tamarcus Cooley has been reliable on the back end.

Specialists: C+

Kiffin would prefer not to see Scott Starzyk attempt nine field goals of 30 yards or less, but at least he made eight of those chip shots when LSU settled. Starzyk split two deeper kicks in the opener, making a 49-yarder and missing from 48.

It hasn’t been the best year for Grant Chadwick. LSU ranks 124th nationally in net punting, pushing their opponents back an average of 35.8 yards. It doesn’t help the grade that LSU gave up a game-turning, 55-yard punt return for a touchdown at Kentucky.