News Summary
LSU football is ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, matching its position in the Coaches Poll. As the Tigers prepare to face No. 4 Clemson, they enter the 2023 season under pressure, with seven ranked opponents ahead. The team, coming off a successful previous season, looks to leverage its strong roster and impressive recruiting class to compete for a playoff spot, making it a thrilling time for LSU fans.
BATON ROUGE, LA — LSU football has been ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP Top 25 college football poll that was released on Monday. This ranking aligns with LSU’s position in the Coaches Poll, further establishing the Tigers as a competitive team heading into the new season.
As LSU prepares for its opening game against No. 4 Clemson, the Tigers find themselves as the underdogs in this highly-anticipated matchup. The game is scheduled for August 30 at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on ABC, offering fans a prominent view of what could be a thrilling start to the college football season.
LSU’s schedule presents a considerable challenge, as seven of their 12 opponents are currently ranked in the top 25. The teams include:
- Texas (No. 1)
- Georgia (No. 5)
- Alabama (No. 8)
- South Carolina (No. 13)
- Florida (No. 15)
- Oklahoma (No. 18)
- Texas A&M (No. 19)
- Ole Miss (No. 21)
- Tennessee (No. 24)
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominates the rankings this year, with 10 teams represented in the top 25. Notably, Missouri and Auburn received votes but did not make it into the top 25, while two other Louisiana schools, Tulane and UL-Lafayette, also received recognition in the voting process.
The AP Top 25 rankings are determined by over 60 journalists who focus on college football nationally each year. This year, Texas is ranked at No. 1 for the first time in an opening poll, followed by:
- Texas
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Clemson
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Oregon
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami
Last season, LSU finished just outside the top 25, concluding the year with a 9-4 record, which included a significant victory over Baylor in the Texas Bowl. This year’s preseason ranking of No. 9 marks the second-highest for LSU under head coach Brian Kelly, who had previously started the 2023 season at No. 5.
The Tigers will benefit from the return of their leading passer from last year, Garrett Nussmeier, who is expected to play a pivotal role in the coming season. Additionally, LSU has successfully secured the nation’s top-ranked transfer portal class as well as a top-10 freshmen class, with 65% of these new recruits classified as blue-chip prospects.
The 2023 season holds additional significance due to the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff format. With their strong roster and competitive schedule, LSU has a robust chance of qualifying for the playoffs if they can navigate the challenges ahead.
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Additional Resources
- The Advertiser
- Wikipedia: College Football Rankings
- NOLA
- Google Search: College Football Preseason Polls
- Fox Sports
- Google Scholar: LSU Football Rankings
- LSU Tigers Wire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: LSU Football
- ESPN
- Google News: LSU Football News
- KADN
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