LSU’s climb hit a snag in the latest AP Top 25, even after the Tigers turned in one of their sharpest performances of the season.
Fresh off a 35-6 dismantling of Texas A&M on Saturday night, LSU still slid from No. 10 to No. 11 when the new poll came out Sunday, Sept. 27. The result left the Tigers just outside the Top 10 despite a convincing home win in Death Valley.
The Aggies arrived in Baton Rouge ranked No. 23, but left the rankings altogether after LSU handled them with ease. Even so, the Tigers didn’t move up, getting passed by Florida and unable to gain ground on idle BYU.
That bump came in a week where the top of the poll stayed mostly intact. Texas, now 4-0, held onto the No. 1 spot after escaping Tennessee with a 20-17 road win.
Ole Miss was the only Top 10 team to lose in Week 4, and it paid for it. The Rebels were blasted by Florida, 52-28, dropping from No. 4 to No.
- That win vaulted former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall’s Gators from No. 21 to No.
The lower half of the rankings saw plenty of movement, too. No.
12 USC, No. 13 Penn State, No.
14 Tennessee, No. 16 Louisville, No.
18 Michigan, No. 19 Missouri and No.
23 Texas A&M all lost over the weekend, shaking up the back end of the poll.
The full AP Top 25 released Sept. 27 put Texas at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, Ohio State, Indiana, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, BYU and LSU.
Rounding out the rest of the Top 25 were Texas Tech, Utah, Iowa, Oregon, Mississippi State, Tennessee, USC, Oklahoma State, Houston, SMU, Boise State, UCLA, Kentucky and Missouri.
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin 102, Duke 101, Penn State 98, Wake Forest 88, Virginia Tech 86, Michigan 54, Pittsburgh 52, Nebraska 36, Louisville 25, Cincinnati 20, James Madison 10, Arizona 8, Minnesota 7, North Dakota State 6, Northwestern 1.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Sends LSU Message After Silencing A Major Concern
LSUs 35-6 win over No. 23 Texas A&M did more than keep the Tigers rolling, it answered a question that had been hanging over the program. The No. 10 Tigers controlled the game in total yards and leaned on a defense that dictated the tempo from the start, giving the kind of complete performance that has been hard to miss in a crowded SEC race.
Lane Kiffin had plenty to point to afterward, from the defensive effort to Sam Leavitts play while dealing with injury and Jackson Harris breakout as a Hawaii transfer. The next stop is a more local one, with McNeese coming to Baton Rouge, but LSU will still be carrying the bigger picture: whether this was a one-night statement or the start of something sturdier. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found Answers To Two Problems Fans Feared Most
After the disappointment of the previous week, LSU needed a response, and it got one in a 35-6 win over Texas A&M that felt as much about problem-solving as scoreboard watching. The Tigers had to navigate injuries and a few offensive concerns, but they still found enough rhythm to settle things down and remind everyone that there are answers on this roster when the situation gets messy.
Jackson Harris became the kind of big-play outlet LSU badly needed after TreyDez Greens injury, turning into a reliable downfield threat and changing the shape of the offense. On the other side, Blake Bakers defense made life miserable for Texas A&M by leaning on the safeties, with Tamarcus Cooley and Ty Benefield both showing up around the ball in big moments, leaving LSU with reason to believe two of its biggest worries may not be as dire as they first looked. [Read more 🡒]
Johnny Manziel Twists The Knife After LSU Exposes Texas A&M Again
LSUs latest win over Texas A&M only added to the frustration around a rivalry that has not been kind to the Aggies in SEC play. The loss dropped Texas A&M to 2-2 and came after another uneven outing from quarterback Marcel Reed, who finished 10 of 26 for 106 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. For LSU fans, it was another night of seeing the Tigers expose familiar problems.
Johnny Manziel, the former Aggies quarterback, wasted little time weighing in on social media after the game. His comments only sharpened the attention on Texas A&Ms early-season stumble and the pressure now building around a team trying to steady itself before the SEC schedule gets any rougher. [Read more 🡒]