Just over a year ago, LSU football finished their 2021 campaign with a 6-7 overall record, including a 20-42 season finale loss versus Kansas State. Flash forward to today, and the Tigers are coming off a 10-4 record in Brian Kelly’s debut season in Baton Rouge. Now, it appears LSU football is right back in the national spotlight. Most recently, On3, a well-known national sports brand, released a post-spring top 25 ranking, notably landing the Tigers at No. 4 overall.
LSU football listed among some of the best in college football in recent top 25 rankings
Monday morning, On3 released a post-spring top 25 list courtesy of Jesse Simonton. For Tiger fans there was plenty to like about the rankings, as LSU football was listed in the top five falling into slot No. 4. While it’s still preseason and there’s plenty of offseason to go down, this is the kind of national respect the Tigers have been waiting for since their national championship run in 2019.
Ahead of LSU football are Ohio State, Michigan and Georgia. The Tigers are the only one of the top four who did not make the College Football Playoff in 2022.
If these rankings are to stay true throughout the entire 2023 season, the College Football Playoff would be made up of all SEC or Big Ten schools. Since the CFP was first introduced in 2014, there has never been a bracket with only two conferences represented. While it’s certainly rare, it’s not impossible to imagine.
Ohio State and Michigan of the Big Ten are considered to be two of the best in college football. In 2022, both schools made it to the College Football Playoff, so both teams are more than capable.
If we look at the rest of the preseason top five schools, they’re all SEC. Whether it be Georgia, Alabama or LSU, all three are excellent options for a two-SEC team representation in 2023.
What would it take for the Tigers to make the College Football Playoff?
The answer is pretty straightforward for the most part. The stars will need to be shining in Baton Rouge this fall. On offense, quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers will need to step up in a major way. On defense, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr and defensive lineman Maason Smith will need to be the dominant forces we all know they can be.
LSU football has more than enough talent to make it happen. One of the biggest determinations will be whether the team’s stars can stay healthy. Maason Smith sustained an injury in the first game of the season last year, ultimately sidelining him for the rest of the season. Jayden Daniels is a run-first quarterback, which is one of the leading causes of injury in quarterbacks.
When thinking about LSU football in 2023, it’s hard not to get overly excited. Coach Brian Kelly had a stellar first season with the program and should improve in year two. Not to mention the team is far more experienced and has the kind of talent that could rival just about any other program in the country.
If the Tigers manage to stay healthy and their stars take steps forward, LSU football could be special in 2023. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me all that much to see them move higher in these rankings. They don’t face No. 1 Georgia this season, immediately lightening their schedule significantly.
With a big-time top 25 ranking like this, the offseason is starting strong for LSU football. Now it’s just a matter of putting the work in and showing they deserve it. The Tigers are set to face off against Florida State on September 3, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. CST.
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