The first College Football Playoff rankings are out, and LSU landed at No. 14, leaving the Tigers just outside the current postseason picture despite a 6-2 start.
That placement comes with some obvious head-scratching. LSU sits behind Tennessee and Alabama, and Alabama is ranked above Kentucky even though Kentucky has the better record. The opening set of rankings always tends to stir debate, and this one is no different.
For LSU, the timing is solid. The Tigers are coming off a bye week after back-to-back wins over Mississippi State and Auburn, results that helped them bounce back from an overtime loss to Kentucky earlier in October.
Even with two losses, LSU has shown it can hang with strong competition. Both defeats came on the road against SEC teams, and the Tigers lost to Ole Miss and Kentucky by a combined nine points.
Still, if LSU wants to make a real move with the committee, the résumé has to keep growing. Saturday afternoon offers the biggest chance yet. Alabama comes to Death Valley for an SEC matchup that carries real weight for both teams, since the Crimson Tide also enter at 6-2.
A win over Alabama would give LSU a major boost in the rankings and a clear path to climbing. The challenge doesn’t ease up after that, either. Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas are still on the regular-season schedule, but if LSU puts it all together and wins out, the Tigers will control their own destiny.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got A Stark Reminder About SEC Eligibility Rules
Missouri is dealing with an eligibility issue that doubles as a warning shot for the rest of the SEC. Guard CJ Gunn has been ruled ineligible by the conference after signing a professional contract and receiving payment to play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, a move that runs afoul of the leagues rule on college basketball players who turn pro after enrolling.
Coach Dennis Gates confirmed the ruling and said there is no appeal, leaving Missouri without a path to get Gunn back on the floor through conference channels. The timing also shuts the door on the G League draft, a reminder that these eligibility questions can quickly spill beyond one roster and into a much wider set of consequences for teams trying to navigate the modern college game. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Will Notice What Alabama Is Worried About In Death Valley
Keelon Russells development has become part of the conversation in Tuscaloosa at exactly the wrong time for Alabama, with a trip to Death Valley looming and Kalen DeBoer trying to keep his young quarterback on track. DeBoer has leaned into the idea that Russell has to keep learning from past experiences while staying composed once the game starts, a reminder that Alabama is still sorting through some of the same growing pains that tend to show up when the pressure rises.
For LSU fans, that is the kind of worry worth noting because it speaks to what Alabama thinks could swing a marquee SEC showdown. The Tigers get the Crimson Tide at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and the buildup already suggests the visitors know they will need steadiness from Russell if they want to handle the noise, the stage and the challenge that comes with playing in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Be Getting An Important Frontcourt Boost Sooner Than Expected
LSUs frontcourt could get a welcome boost sooner than expected, with Noa Morro now trending toward a return as early as next week. Kim Mulkey said the senior has been back on the floor in practice and taking part in pregame warm-ups, a notable step for a player who had surgery in early September to address a stress fracture.
Morro brings a veteran presence to the Tigers after a career that included professional experience in Spain and international play for Spanish national teams before arriving in Baton Rouge. For LSU, getting her back into the mix would add depth and experience inside at a time when every healthy body matters, and the next step will be seeing how quickly she can work back into game shape once she is cleared. [Read more 🡒]