The latest College Football Playoff rankings gave LSU something it badly needed: a reason to keep looking up.
After a 6-3 start that had started to feel like a dead end, the Tigers landed at No. 21 when the committee unveiled its new list Tuesday night. That put LSU three spots ahead of where it sat in the AP Poll and, at least for now, kept the door cracked on a possible playoff run.
The path is still narrow, and it comes with plenty of help required from elsewhere. LSU has no “bad losses” on its résumé so far, which is part of why the committee has left the Tigers hanging around the edge of the picture.
Ole Miss has dropped to No. 19 after its third loss, while Alabama sits at No. 3 and Kentucky at No. 11.
Even with that favorable placement, LSU would need to be close to perfect the rest of the way. The Tigers would also need a few results outside their control to break just right.
Skeptics have plenty of reasons to doubt it can happen. Still, this has been the wildest college football season in more than a decade, and that alone keeps LSU from being completely written off.
The immediate challenge comes Saturday, when Texas visits Tiger Stadium. LSU is listed as an early favorite, but the Longhorns bring plenty of firepower. Arch Manning has been red-hot, and Texas has a defense that can change a game in a hurry.
For LSU, the offensive line may end up deciding everything. Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons has been a nightmare for opposing offenses, and he is tied for the national lead with 10.5 sacks in just seven games.
That sets up a major test for an LSU front five that has not played well enough this season. The Tigers’ next opponent after Texas, Tennessee, brings the nation’s top pass rush, so the pressure on LSU up front is not going away anytime soon.
There is also a scoreboard-watching element to LSU’s climb. Texas needs to win its final two games after Saturday, against Arkansas and Texas A&M. Tennessee also has two games it should be favored to win, against Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
Even then, nothing would be locked in. If LSU handles Arkansas in the final week and gets the right help, it would at least stay in the mix. In a season where the rankings have been all over the place, the Tigers have been handed a fresh opening, even if it’s a slim one.
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 🡒]