Florida State vs. LSU: Seminoles Prepare for Final Exhibition Before Regular Season
Florida State basketball will return to the Donald L. Tucker Center on Saturday afternoon for its final exhibition matchup before the start of the 2026–27 regular season, welcoming LSU to Tallahassee for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
The Seminoles enter the contest following a big exhibition victory over Auburn, while LSU arrives with two preseason wins over McNeese State and UCF. Saturday's matchup will allow both programs to evaluate their progress against another major-conference opponent before the games begin counting toward their regular-season records.
For Florida State, the exhibition represents another important step in the program's second season under head coach Luke Loucks. After exceeding expectations during his first year in Tallahassee, Loucks enters the new season looking to build on the foundation established in 2025–26.
The Seminoles finished last season with an 18–15 overall record and a 10–8 mark in ACC play, tying for seventh in the conference after being projected to finish 15th in the preseason poll. That improvement has created additional optimism surrounding the program, with Florida State selected seventh in the ACC's 2026–27 preseason poll.
Florida State's exhibition victory over Auburn offered an encouraging early look at its revamped roster. Freshman center Marcis Ponder recorded a double-double, demonstrating the physical presence he could provide around the basket this season.
The Seminoles have also added several players capable of contributing offensively, including transfers Kam Taylor and Shon Abaev. They will be joined by returning contributor Alex Steen, who is expected to make his first appearance of the year after being ruled eligible this week.
Saturday's matchup against LSU should provide a more complete picture of how those pieces fit together.
On the opposing sideline, LSU enters the season under head coach Will Wade, who has returned to Baton Rouge for his second stint leading the Tigers.
LSU has already played two exhibition contests, narrowly defeating McNeese State 63–60 before earning an 85–81 victory over UCF. While the Tigers have managed to win both games, neither performance came without challenges.
Against UCF, LSU found itself in a tightly contested matchup that remained undecided until the final seconds. Donovan Dent delivered a late basket before Mo Dioubate helped secure the victory, allowing the Tigers to escape with their second exhibition win.
Another significant storyline surrounding LSU has been the availability of several roster additions. The Tigers played only six players against UCF because multiple newcomers were still awaiting eligibility clearance.
Since that matchup, LSU has received additional roster clearances, potentially giving Wade a much deeper rotation against Florida State.
That development makes Saturday's exhibition particularly interesting, as the Seminoles could face a considerably different LSU team than the one that narrowly defeated UCF.
LSU's backcourt features experienced talent, including Donovan Dent, who averaged 13.3 points and 7.6 assists at UCLA last season. His ability to create offense gives the Tigers a reliable presence at guard.
The Tigers also received a significant boost with the eligibility clearance of Skyy Clark, another former UCLA guard. Both Dent and Clark have been granted eligibility through court orders, strengthening LSU's backcourt ahead of Saturday's exhibition.
In the frontcourt, Mo Dioubate and newly cleared center Brice Dessert provide additional size and physicality, giving LSU more depth than it had during its earlier exhibition contests.
For the Seminoles, the matchup will present an opportunity to evaluate their defensive communication and rebounding against an opponent with experienced guards and a physical frontcourt.
Florida State's ability to establish an offensive rhythm will also be important. With several new players expected to take on significant roles this season, developing chemistry remains a priority.
The Seminoles showed encouraging signs against Auburn, but Saturday's exhibition offers another opportunity to demonstrate consistency on both ends of the floor.
Although the result will not count toward either team's regular-season record, the matchup should provide valuable information for both coaching staffs as they finalize rotations and prepare for the opening weeks of the season.
Florida State enters the year with expectations considerably higher than those surrounding the program a season ago. Continuing to build on last year's progress will require the Seminoles to translate their individual talent into consistent team performances.
Saturday's matchup against LSU will serve as one final opportunity to evaluate that progress before the regular season begins.
Score Prediction: Florida State 69, LSU 62
Florida State enters Saturday's matchup with an opportunity to take advantage of an LSU team that is still developing chemistry following the recent eligibility clearances of several players.
I expect the Seminoles' defensive intensity to be the difference in this contest. Florida State should be able to wear down LSU throughout the game by applying consistent defensive pressure and making the Tigers work for every possession.
With several LSU players having limited opportunities to play together, I believe the Tigers will struggle to establish an offensive rhythm and consistently create open shots against Florida State's defense.
Ultimately, I expect Florida State's defensive effort to take its toll in the second half, allowing the Seminoles to pull away late and secure a seven-point victory in their final exhibition before the regular season.
Final Score Prediction: Florida State 69, LSU 62
Florida State and LSU are scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee. The exhibition will be available on ACC Network Extra through ESPN+.