This weekend’s LSU Tigers bye week is well-timed as they prepare to meet the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium. While most people anticipated that both teams would go into this matchup unbeaten, early season defeats for both teams have somewhat dulled the excitement around this matchup. But because of the early-season setbacks, this game is even more intriguing because a loss for either team may be the final nail in their College Football Playoff dreams. After this weekend, when Ole Miss travels to face South Carolina, who destroyed the Kentucky team Ole Miss recently lost to, the game might become even more crucial.
Although it’s difficult to say when a game has to be won because we can’t really control what happens to a coach, Brian Kelly believes that this one needs to be won. Unless the nation’s best teams completely collapse, a loss for LSU will all but eliminate the Tigers from the College Football Playoff competition. Additionally, it would have been Brian Kelly’s second defeat of the year against a club comparable to LSU. Brian Kelly was recruited in to compete for and win SEC and National Championships after leaving Notre Dame. In the event of a defeat, LSU’s record in terms of qualifying for the playoffs under Brian Kelly would be 0 for 3.
In Ed Orgeron’s third year, LSU finished inside the top ten of both the AP and Coaches Poll at 10-3. In Les Miles’ third year he won the College Football National Championship with a 12-2 record.
That said, a win would vault LSU right into the thick of things in terms of competing for a SEC Title and for a College Football Playoff bid. The Tigers are currently ranked 13th in the AP Poll and a win would vault them atleast one spot as Ole Miss is ranked 12th.
That weekend, Texas and Oklahoma, Ohio State and Oregon, Penn State and USC, and a ton of other top teams will all play in games that could determine the College Football Playoff race. With a few teams of LSU guaranteed to fall, a win wouldn’t just put them on the cusp of the race but, it would firmly cement LSU as a playoff contender.
Leave a Reply