4 of 10 SI roundtable say LSU has the best playoff resume outside of Top 4

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Brian Hamilton: LSU

It's the team that just exited the top four. The Tigers have wins over two teams in the playoff committee’s top 25—Florida and Mississippi State—and their opponents have combined to win 57.4% of their games. Iowa has an unblemished record and nice wins—Northwestern and Wisconsin are in the top 25, and Pitt is solid if not spectacular—but those teams aren't at the level of the teams LSU has beaten. Florida, meanwhile, suffers as the value of that Ole Miss blowout drops by the week.

Lindsay Schnell: LSU

I'd like to preface this by saying I know they played REALLY bad against Alabama, but if we're talking résumé right now, on Nov. 11, as opposed to who could have the best résumé at the end of the month ... I have to go with the Tigers. I'm shocked they dropped so far considering whom they lost to. Alabama is a) really good b) playing really well. But LSU still has Leonard Fournette, and if anyone can put teammates on his back and deliver them to the postseason, it's this guy (provided he, you know, stays eligible). What happens if LSU goes out and smashes Ole Miss, which beat Alabama? Answer: Chaos, and the Tigers possibly back in the top four.

Zac Ellis: LSU

Yes, the Tigers have a loss. Yes, five undefeated teams rank ahead of them. But LSU's one defeat came on the road against the selection committee's current No. 2 team, Alabama. Meanwhile the Bayou Bengals boast two wins over top-20 teams in No. 11 Florida and No. 17 Mississippi State. With quality victories, a good loss and a strength of schedule that ranks 19th nationally, per the Sagarin Ratings, LSU still has a playoff-caliber résumé.

Joan Niesen: LSU

At this point, I have to go with the Tiers, even though they fell all the way to No. 9 after losing at Alabama. But when your only loss is to the second-ranked team (which is looking with each passing week like it might just be the best defense, and perhaps consequently the best team, in the country), that has to count for something. I also think LSU's strength of schedule trumps those of the rest of the teams just outside the top four. I'm still at the point where a one-loss SEC team trumps undefeated Big Ten and Big 12 teams who, due to their divisions, haven't played the best teams in their respective conferences.

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