With college football careening from one surprise to the next, the idea of a three-loss team sneaking into the College Football Playoff no longer feels far-fetched. If that happens, the path almost certainly has to be built on a brutal schedule, and that puts an SEC team squarely in the conversation.
Danny Kanell thinks LSU fits that profile. On CBS Sports, he said Lane Kiffin’s first LSU team could become the kind of 9-3 squad that lands in the field because the résumé may be strong enough to withstand those three losses.
“There is going to be a 9-3 team in, and I think LSU is one of the best resumes that can make the strongest case,” Kanell said. “Especially with them having lost earlier, you wanna finish strong.
Look at Texas and Alabama, they’re losing now so everybody’s down on them. LSU can gain some momentum coming down the home stretch.”
The Tigers already have a pair of losses, but the closing stretch gives them a chance to pile up more proof in front of the committee. After a bye week, LSU is headed into a heavy finish that starts with Alabama coming to Death Valley for the annual showdown. Texas follows at home the next week, with Senior Night also on the calendar.
The final two hurdles are just as demanding: road games at Tennessee and Arkansas, with the trip to Neyland Stadium standing out as one of the biggest games left on LSU’s schedule.
In Other News...
Mizzou Just Got A Harsh Reminder About Its Closing Stretch
Missouris bye week did not come with any help in the polls. The Tigers slipped three spots to No. 23 in the latest AP Top 25, then dropped two more places to No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, a reminder that even when they are off the field, the teams around them keep moving.
That slide also underscores how unforgiving the final stretch looks from here. Missouri is now the lowest-ranked SEC team in the AP poll and is staring at a run of upcoming games against ranked opponents, which means there is little margin left to protect its standing or build back momentum before the seasons biggest tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Former Mizzou Tigers Are Making Early NFL Noise In A Big Way
The early NFL season has offered a pretty useful reminder of how much Missouri football has been feeding pro rosters lately. Five former Tigers have already made their presence felt, with names like Trotter, McGuire, Bolton, Burden and Membou showing up in all the ways that matter most to evaluators and fans alike, from tackles and sacks to receptions and blocking efficiency.
For Missouri, it is the kind of start that quietly reinforces the programs NFL pipeline without needing much decoration. These are not just roster fillers getting through September and October, either, as each player has found a way to stand out in a different area of the game, giving the Tigers another reason to point to what their development looks like after college. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Offense Nears A Big Ahmad Hardy Turning Point
Ahmad Hardy is set to take another step in his recovery this week, with coach Eli Drinkwitz saying the Missouri running back is expected back at practice. Hardy has been working his way back after being shot in May, and the Tigers have handled his absence by leaning on senior tailback Jamal Roberts to carry much of the rushing load.
The next question is when Hardy will actually be cleared to play again, and that call will come from Missouris medical staff. His return would give the offense another option in the backfield at a time when the Tigers have already had to adjust around his absence, making this a notable development even before he gets back into game action. [Read more 🡒]