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The SEC has arguably been the best conference in college football for over a decade. However, the Big Ten appears to be challenging for the top spot after its teams won back-to-back national championships.
The SEC aims to reclaim its dominance as the upcoming season approaches, and several teams show potential. ESPN's initial SP+ rankings — which are based on three key factors weighted by their predictiveness: returning production, recent recruiting and recent history — feature six SEC teams in the top 10: the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, Ole Miss Rebels, Tennessee Volunteers and LSU Tigers. However, Tennessee's ranking may decline due to the loss of quarterback Nico Iamaleava since these rankings were released.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum was asked about one of those teams, LSU, and he said he thinks they could be one of the best teams in the conference this season.
LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) looks for an open receiver during the first half against the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium.Maria Lysaker
"I think they're in the top tier, but not at the top," Finebaum said. "So, what does that mean? That means, I think, they are somewhere between two and four in the SEC."
Since their remarkable 2019 season, when LSU went 15-0 and won the national championship, the Tigers have faced challenges. They haven't made the playoffs since then, nor have they won a conference championship. In fact, they have had the same number of seasons with six wins or fewer as they have with 10-win seasons during this time.
In the past season, LSU finished with a record of 9-4. After starting strong with a 6-1 record, the Tigers crumbled down the stretch, losing three consecutive games that ended their playoff hopes. However, there is optimism for this upcoming season, as LSU returns 62 percent of its production, which ranks 38th in the country.
One key returning player is quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 64.2 percent of his passes. Nussmeier will need to improve on his interceptions; he had four games with multiple interceptions last season, two of which occurred during LSU's three-game losing streak.
Additionally, LSU has brought in the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class. If the returning players and newcomers can blend effectively, it could lead to an exciting season in Baton Rouge.
Continue reading...
The SEC aims to reclaim its dominance as the upcoming season approaches, and several teams show potential. ESPN's initial SP+ rankings — which are based on three key factors weighted by their predictiveness: returning production, recent recruiting and recent history — feature six SEC teams in the top 10: the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns, Ole Miss Rebels, Tennessee Volunteers and LSU Tigers. However, Tennessee's ranking may decline due to the loss of quarterback Nico Iamaleava since these rankings were released.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum was asked about one of those teams, LSU, and he said he thinks they could be one of the best teams in the conference this season.
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LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) looks for an open receiver during the first half against the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium.Maria Lysaker
"I think they're in the top tier, but not at the top," Finebaum said. "So, what does that mean? That means, I think, they are somewhere between two and four in the SEC."
Since their remarkable 2019 season, when LSU went 15-0 and won the national championship, the Tigers have faced challenges. They haven't made the playoffs since then, nor have they won a conference championship. In fact, they have had the same number of seasons with six wins or fewer as they have with 10-win seasons during this time.
In the past season, LSU finished with a record of 9-4. After starting strong with a 6-1 record, the Tigers crumbled down the stretch, losing three consecutive games that ended their playoff hopes. However, there is optimism for this upcoming season, as LSU returns 62 percent of its production, which ranks 38th in the country.
One key returning player is quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 64.2 percent of his passes. Nussmeier will need to improve on his interceptions; he had four games with multiple interceptions last season, two of which occurred during LSU's three-game losing streak.
Additionally, LSU has brought in the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class. If the returning players and newcomers can blend effectively, it could lead to an exciting season in Baton Rouge.
Continue reading...
