Summer hasn't truly arrived until the quiet after spring practice settles over college football. Now that we've reached that point, the media is taking a hard look back at how every team performed during the offseason. ESPN recently took on that challenge, with writers Eli Lederman, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg ranking each Power Four team's offseason by conference.

When it comes to which program underwent the most dramatic transformation this offseason, it's hard to name anyone other than LSU football. The Tigers landed one of the biggest names in college football by hiring former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. They also brought in a massive 40-man transfer class that ESPN itself ranked as the best in the country. After last season left the roster and program in serious trouble, LSU rebuilt from the ground up. But surprisingly, that wasn't enough to earn the title of the best offseason in the SEC.

Although LSU claimed the No. 1 spot in ESPN's transfer portal class rankings, Texas took the top spot on this overall list. The Longhorns signed ESPN's No. 2 overall player in the portal, wide receiver Cam Coleman, along with the No. 1 and No. 3 running backs, Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. Beyond those top-tier additions, Texas also secured a couple of elite defenders and retooled an offensive line that struggled more than usual last season. Perhaps most surprisingly, they brought in Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator—a role he hasn't held in over a decade.

While the Muschamp hire raises some eyebrows, Texas's other moves have many believing Steve Sarkisian can lead his team to a national championship this season. But here's the thing: this isn't about who will be more successful in 2026. It's about who had the better offseason. And in that context, it's tough to argue the Longhorns outperformed the Tigers.

LSU signed ESPN's No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 players in its transfer rankings at the three most important positions on the field. That kind of haul doesn't come around often, and it signals that the Tigers are serious about competing at the highest level. Whether that translates into on-field success remains to be seen, but for a program that needed a complete reset, LSU's offseason was nothing short of remarkable.