Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are losing ground in a recruiting battle they once appeared to control.

For months, the feeling has been that LSU will eventually flip 2027 five-star wide receiver Easton Royal from Texas.

Royal, who is from New Orleans, has been committed to Texas for nearly a year, but the Tigers have never stopped pursuing him.

At one point, it was considered inevitable that Royal would end up at LSU.

But that’s no longer the case.

The feeling now is that Florida will be the team that flips Royal from Texas.

“At one point LSU was viewed as the clear biggest threat to flip Royal from the Longhorns but now several sources like Florida’s chances,” noted On3’s Steve Wiltfong this week. “I’m buying that buzz and believe the Gators are surging and would put them ahead of the Tigers right now.”

This battle is likely going to go all the way until the early signing period begins in early December.

This is a battle that Kiffin needs to win. LSU should never miss on an elite five-star in-state wide receiver. Losing Royal to Florida, or not flipping him from Texas, would be a tough look for Kiffin.

The expectation is that Royal will return to Baton Rouge for two games in November, so there’s still time for LSU to win this battle.

But it’s clear that Kiffin and the Tigers have some work to do if they’re going to keep Royal from leaving the state.