We continue our rankings of the top 10 college football programs in the country today with #9 LSU. Who will be #8 tomorrow? Here's a clue: This program has the second highest win percentage in NCAA history.
#9 LSU
Coach: Ed Orgeron (25-9, 3rd season (Interim for ½ a season)
2018: Went 10-3 overall and followed up a seven overtime loss to Texas A&M with a 40-32 win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl.
Key Losses: LB Devin White (123 tackles in 2018), K Cole Tracy (29-33 FGs in 2018, Set an NCAA record for most field goals made in a career), CB Greedy Williams (2 interceptions, 9 pass breakups in 2018)
The good news: QB Joe Burrow returns for a second season after transferring from Ohio State last year as well as three members of the offensive line, which should allow their passing and running game to thrive.
3 Ws
Who will be the key leaders on offense and defense?
QB Joe Burrow
Many great quarterbacks come from football families. The Manning brothers, the Clauson brothers, and the Harbaugh brothers, just to name a few. Add LSU quarterback Joe Burrow to that list. He grew up watching his father, Jimmy, lead the Ohio State defense for multiple seasons as a coordinator as well as his two older brothers who starred for Nebraska. He's followed in their footsteps playing on the college level. A senior heading into the 2019 season, he has confidence after taking the reins of the offense and guiding them to close wins over Auburn, Miami and Arkansas in his first season as the starter. Opposing coaches called him, “The best quarterback to play for the Tigers in a long time”.
S Grant Delpit
Although they lost White and Williams to the NFL after 2018, Delpit will anchor this defense that returns nine starters. The team leader in interceptions last year with five, he also led the squad in sacks.
What is their projected record in 2019?
9-3 overall, 8-1 SEC
When will they face their toughest opponent?
November 9th in Tuscaloosa. That says it all. Having to face Alabama is already a tough matchup to begin with. Then add in having to play them at home! While victory isn’t impossible, playing the Crimson Tide is without a doubt the most challenging game the Tigers will play all season. Last season, the game was full of anticipation, as many expected the Tigers to defeat or at least contend with the Crimson Tide. They did neither one of those things. Bama took home a shutout 29-0 victory on the road. However, 2019 is a new season and gives the Tigers a new opportunity to defeat the team everyone in the SEC wants to beat: Alabama.
My Take:
LSU is a much more dangerous team than a lot of people are going to expect them to be, especially in an early season matchup against Texas on the road. Not too many top programs return as many starters on offense or defense as the Tigers do, which gives them a clear advantage compared to a squad like Texas who only returns 2 starters on defense. They are also planning to use the Run-Pass Option, which is an attack that if done right, will keep opposing defenses on their toes.
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