LSU’s margin for error has all but vanished, and the College Football Playoff committee made that clear Tuesday.
After a third SEC loss, the Tigers fell seven spots to No. 21 in the latest rankings, landing there after a 31-13 defeat to now-No. 3 Alabama. LSU is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play, and the committee now has the Tigers sitting as the eighth-highest SEC team.
The group ahead of LSU in the league hierarchy includes No. 1 Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, No.
11 Kentucky, No. 17 South Carolina and No.
19 Ole Miss. Missouri also cracked the top 25 at No.
What comes next is brutal, but it also gives LSU a shot to change the conversation fast. The Tigers host No.
6 Texas on Saturday in Tiger Stadium, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. on ABC. A week later, they head to No.
8 Tennessee for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff in Neyland Stadium before closing the regular season at Arkansas.
“You get the schedule early, and then once it's going, you start seeing, OK, this chunk of three right here … this is three really good teams, maybe three top-12 teams, three of the best defenses in the country. You say, man, you really probably don't want that right in a row,” Kiffin said of Alabama, Texas and Tennessee. “Now, because we lost, it's a good thing that it is because it gives you a chance right away to play a top-10 team.”
Kiffin’s first season in Baton Rouge has not gone the way anyone expected. He entered with huge expectations, but LSU has already stacked up three losses through nine games. He has repeatedly pointed to injuries as part of the story, including linebacker Whit Weeks and tight end Trey’Dez Green, who has recently returned.
Still, the frustration is not just about who has been unavailable. LSU has had chances in games that slipped away, and Kiffin has not hidden that.
“But still … had a chance to finish out games,” Kiffin said, reflecting on the Ole Miss loss that was tied 24-24 in the fourth quarter, the overtime loss to Kentucky and last weekend’s defeat when LSU led Alabama 13-10 late in the third quarter.
Now the Tigers are staring at a stretch that will decide whether this season stays alive in the CFP race or fades into what might have been. Safety Ty Benefield said the team understands the stakes.
“Realizing your back is to the wall, but also not thinking about it as much,” LSU safety Ty Benefield said Tuesday of the Tigers’ mindset. “We've got to understand the situation we're in. But we can't focus on it.”
In Other News...
LSU Brings One Dangerous Edge Into Texas Clash Despite Clear Concerns
LSU comes into the Texas matchup with a profile that can make life miserable for any opponent. The Tigers have been productive enough on offense to rank near the top nationally in yards per game and third-down conversions, and their defense has a clear edge up front, leading the nation in sack percentage. For Texas, which heads to Baton Rouge fresh off a win over Missouri, that means the Longhorns have to be ready for a game that can turn quickly if they let LSU dictate the tempo.
Still, the Tigers are not without concerns. Their offense has had trouble finishing drives in the red zone and has not consistently established the run, while the defense has shown some vulnerability to giving up big plays. That mix makes LSU dangerous, but also gives Texas a path if it can stay efficient, avoid negative snaps and force the Tigers to play a cleaner game than they have sometimes managed. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Defense Is Starting To Look Like A Real Problem For Opponents
LSUs latest rout at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was the kind of night that keeps building a defensive identity. The Tigers rolled past Louisiana Tech 90-50, extending a remarkable stretch that saw them win three straight by 40 points or more for the first time in program history. The pressure showed up everywhere, with LSU forcing 23 turnovers and turning those mistakes into 38 points while getting disruptive nights from Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent, who each finished with five steals.
Michael Ruzic led the way offensively with 17 points, and Mo Dioubate added 15 before fouling out, but the bigger takeaway for LSU is how quickly the defense is becoming the tone-setter. Opponents are having a hard time getting clean looks, and even when the Tigers are not at their sharpest on the offensive end, the pace and activity on defense are giving them room to control games in a way that feels increasingly sustainable. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Lands In The Middle Of A Weekend Fans Can't Ignore
Week 11 has a way of reshaping the conversation in college football, and LSU is right in the middle of it with Texas coming to Baton Rouge. The weekend slate is loaded around the Tigers, too, with Georgia heading to Missouri, Utah traveling to Arizona, Indiana hosting USC and Alabama playing in Nashville, giving fans plenty of reasons to keep one eye on the scoreboard beyond Death Valley.
For LSU, though, the focus is squarely on the matchup at home and the broader stage it sits on. The full schedule is spread across multiple networks and streaming platforms, so this is one of those Saturdays when timing matters as much as the games themselves. By the time the night settles in, the Tigers could find themselves part of the weekends biggest talking point. [Read more 🡒]