LSU may have been the 15th best team in college football this season

Despite the disppointment of LSU not contending for the playoffs it is conceivable the Tigers may have still been the 15th best team in college football. The lowest ranked team to beat the Tigers was 14th ranked Vanderbilt. There were one touchdown or less losses to the 6th, 8th and 14th teams, and an 11 point loss to #9 which was still a one score game late in the fourth quarter, all on the road. The only bad loss was to A&M in a game they led at the half until the roof caved in. The most important players on offense and defense were injured and missed several games or were limited by their injuries. Its not inconceivable that they may have won 3 to 4 of those games with those players at full strength and would have likely made the playoffs. The difference in all of those losses was QB play. A healthy Nussmeier would have resulted in more scoring despite the offensive line issues, and a healthy Weeks would have limited the effectiveness of the opposing quarterbacks. The Tigers would have been favored over the rest of the top 25 teams.

Kiffin inherits a a decent core group. thus far the portal departures are not very significant. Kiffin has shown an ability to successfully work the portal and should do so again. He will get a quality QB and hopefully one who remains healthy and is able to make the difference in what should be another season of close games.s.