re: ESPN hates LSU

If only 2% more people learned how to actually read, the world would be a much better place.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45966848/college-football-2025-preseason-sp+-rankings

TEAM SP+ (RK) OFF. DEF. ST AVG. W SOS RK
1. Ohio St. 26.1 38.0 (8) 12.0 (3) 0.3 (11) 10.0 21
2. Alabama 25.5 39.3 (3) 13.7 (6) 0.2 (20) 9.4 11
3. Georgia 24.2 37.7 (10) 13.5 (5) 0.6 (1) 9.3 13
4. Penn St. 24.2 38.8 (4) 14.6 (8) 0.1 (58) 10.0 29
5. Texas 23.1 33.7 (24) 10.7 (2) -0.5 (135) 9.1 12
6. Notre Dame 22.0 36.8 (12) 14.8 (9) -0.2 (106) 9.8 44
7. Oregon 22.0 38.5 (5) 16.6 (13) 0.5 (3) 9.6 32
8. Michigan 20.9 31.5 (37) 10.6 (1) 0.2 (22) 9.6 38
9. Ole Miss 20.7 35.2 (18) 14.5 (7) 0.3 (7) 9.0 23
10. Clemson 20.2 38.4 (6) 18.2 (20) -0.3 (133) 9.3 34
11. LSU 20.1 39.7 (2) 19.6 (24) 0.1 (48) 8.1 9
12. Tennessee 19.4 31.9 (33) 12.5 (4) 0.2 (21) 8.9 24
13. Texas A&M 18.3 35.4 (17) 17.1 (17) 0.2 (24) 8.0 10
14. Miami 18.1 42.7 (1) 24.6 (49) 0.2 (19) 9.0 36
15. Oklahoma 17.5 33.8 (23) 16.2 (11) 0.2 (31) 7.2 1
16. Florida 16.2 34.9 (20) 18.7 (22) 0.3 (8) 6.8 2
17. S. Carolina 16.0 33.2 (26) 17.2 (18) 0.1 (50) 7.1 7
18. Kansas St. 15.3 35.5 (16) 20.2 (29) 0.2 (26) 8.7 57
19. SMU 14.6 38.0 (9) 23.5 (42) 0.1 (40) 8.6 45
20. Missouri 14.0 31.5 (38) 17.5 (19) -0.1 (96) 7.8 25
21. USC 13.2 37.3 (11) 24.1 (44) 0.1 (63) 7.7 20
22. Auburn 13.1 30.1 (48) 17.0 (16) -0.1 (83) 7.0 15
23. Indiana 12.5 32.2 (30) 19.7 (25) 0.2 (29) 8.2 31
24. Louisville 12.3 36.7 (13) 24.4 (46) -0.1 (97) 8.1 43
25. Iowa 12.1 27.2 (69) 15.1 (10) 0.3 (12) 7.1 22
26. Utah 12.1 28.8 (54) 16.7 (15) 0.2 (36) 8.0 55
27. Illinois 11.8 31.0 (41) 19.2 (23) 0.2 (30) 8.0 40
28. TCU 11.7 35.1 (19) 23.4 (41) -0.1 (92) 7.5 41
29. Texas Tech 11.6 38.2 (7) 26.6 (61) 0.2 (23) 8.3 62
30. Arizona St. 11.3 32.1 (31) 20.8 (31) -0.6 (136) 7.9 61
31. Iowa St. 10.6 31.3 (39) 20.8 (30) -0.1 (87) 7.5 51
32. Nebraska 10.3 27.0 (70) 16.7 (14) -0.2 (119) 7.6 35
33. Boise St. 10.0 35.9 (14) 25.9 (54) -0.3 (132) 10.0 84
34. Arkansas 9.7 32.4 (29) 22.7 (37) 0.2 (35) 5.6 3
35. Baylor 9.4 35.5 (15) 26.2 (57) 0.2 (38) 6.9 46
36. BYU 9.3 29.4 (50) 20.1 (28) 0.3 (10) 7.7 64
37. Washington 9.0 30.1 (47) 21.1 (32) -0.2 (121) 6.9 28
38. Wisconsin 8.9 27.4 (67) 18.4 (21) 0.0 (70) 5.6 4
39. Florida St. 8.7 28.5 (57) 19.8 (26) 0.3 (13) 7.0 30
40. Minnesota 7.1 23.4 (96) 16.3 (12) 0.0 (64) 7.0 27
41. Ga. Tech 7.1 33.6 (25) 26.5 (60) -0.1 (100) 6.9 47
42. Va. Tech 6.9 30.0 (49) 23.1 (39) 0.2 (37) 7.0 54
43. Duke 6.6 27.8 (61) 21.2 (34) 0.0 (66) 7.0 60
44. Kentucky 6.5 26.4 (76) 19.9 (27) 0.3 (14) 5.1 8
45. Tulane 5.9 33.0 (28) 27.0 (62) 0.0 (77) 8.5 73
46. NC St. 5.7 31.7 (34) 25.9 (55) 0.1 (55) 6.6 39
47. Rutgers 5.4 29.3 (52) 23.9 (43) 0.1 (52) 5.9 16
48. Kansas 5.2 33.1 (27) 27.9 (69) -0.1 (94) 6.3 50
49. Colorado 5.1 31.1 (40) 26.0 (56) -0.2 (114) 6.1 49
50. UCLA 4.9 27.6 (63) 22.6 (36) 0.1 (54) 5.5 19
51. Pittsburgh 4.7 30.6 (44) 25.9 (52) 0.2 (17) 6.2 48
52. Memphis 4.2 34.9 (21) 30.7 (90) 0.1 (42) 9.0 121
53. N. Carolina 4.1 32.0 (32) 27.9 (68) 0.0 (72) 6.9 68
54. Vanderbilt 3.8 28.4 (58) 24.6 (48) 0.3 (9) 5.0 5
55. Syracuse 3.3 31.6 (36) 28.3 (71) -0.2 (101) 4.9 14
56. JMU 2.6 29.0 (53) 26.4 (58) 0.1 (53) 8.4 104
57. Oklahoma St. 2.3 31.6 (35) 29.3 (77) 0.0 (78) 5.5 42
58. UCF 2.2 28.7 (55) 26.4 (59) 0.0 (81) 5.9 58
59. Cincinnati 2.2 26.3 (77) 24.1 (45) -0.1 (88) 5.7 59
60. WVU 2.0 30.4 (45) 28.4 (73) 0.2 (18) 5.3 53
61. Arizona 1.8 29.4 (51) 27.6 (66) 0.2 (16) 5.5 56
62. Boston Coll. 1.6 27.5 (65) 25.9 (53) -0.2 (127) 5.3 37
63. Houston 1.5 24.6 (91) 23.1 (40) -0.2 (120) 5.8 67
64. California 1.2 26.5 (74) 25.3 (51) 0.0 (82) 6.0 65
65. Michigan St. 1.1 22.3 (102) 21.1 (33) 0.2 (32) 4.8 26
66. Miss. St. 0.7 28.5 (56) 27.9 (67) 0.2 (27) 4.1 6
67. Maryland 0.4 25.0 (87) 24.6 (47) 0.0 (68) 5.2 52
68. UTSA 0.3 34.0 (22) 33.7 (106) 0.2 (33) 7.8 90
69. Army -0.2 24.7 (90) 24.9 (50) 0.0 (75) 7.7 94
70. Navy -0.2 28.1 (60) 28.3 (72) -0.2 (113) 8.1 81
71. Toledo -1.2 26.3 (78) 27.5 (64) -0.1 (86) 9.0 133
72. Liberty -1.3 27.3 (68) 28.6 (75) -0.2 (105) 9.4 136
73. UNLV -1.8 28.2 (59) 29.9 (81) 0.4 (5) 8.2 122
74. Virginia -2.2 25.4 (83) 27.6 (65) 0.1 (56) 5.4 69
75. Oregon St. -2.6 27.5 (64) 30.1 (84) 0.0 (67) 6.6 71
76. USF -2.8 30.7 (42) 33.5 (105) 0.2 (25) 6.3 63
77. Louisiana -3.1 26.8 (72) 29.9 (79) 0.4 (6) 7.6 91
78. S. Alabama -4.1 26.1 (80) 30.2 (85) 0.0 (69) 7.1 108
79. Wake Forest -4.7 26.0 (81) 30.7 (89) 0.1 (60) 4.9 72
80. Ga. Southern -4.7 27.0 (71) 31.7 (95) 0.2 (15) 7.2 110
81. UConn -4.9 25.3 (85) 30.3 (86) 0.1 (61) 7.5 124
82. Stanford -5.0 26.1 (79) 31.2 (92) 0.2 (28) 3.5 33
83. Ohio -5.0 24.9 (88) 29.9 (82) -0.3 (131) 7.3 70
84. Wash. St. -5.7 30.2 (46) 35.9 (117) -0.2 (110) 5.4 74
85. SJSU -5.8 25.4 (84) 31.2 (93) -0.2 (108) 7.3 96
86. Northwestern -6.4 16.3 (133) 22.7 (38) -0.2 (103) 3.5 18
87. Texas St. -6.5 27.4 (66) 33.9 (108) 0.0 (79) 6.4 105
88. Fresno St. -6.5 22.8 (99) 29.3 (78) -0.2 (102) 6.5 109
89. WKU -7.0 21.7 (104) 28.7 (76) 0.6 (2) 7.6 101
90. Troy -7.1 23.2 (97) 30.3 (87) -0.1 (84) 6.4 89
91. ECU -7.1 26.8 (73) 33.8 (107) 0.0 (65) 5.8 98
92. Miami-OH -7.8 14.8 (135) 22.6 (35) 0.4 (4) 6.4 112
93. Coastal Caro. -7.8 27.8 (62) 35.6 (115) 0.1 (43) 5.9 92
94. Buffalo -7.8 22.1 (103) 29.9 (80) 0.1 (49) 7.6 130
95. N. Texas -7.9 30.7 (43) 38.6 (128) -0.1 (91) 6.7 131
96. Colorado St. -8.4 24.2 (94) 32.6 (97) -0.1 (89) 5.9 106
97. App. St. -9.0 24.0 (95) 33.0 (101) -0.2 (112) 6.3 111
98. Air Force -9.0 19.1 (119) 28.1 (70) -0.2 (125) 5.7 116
99. Marshall -9.8 25.0 (86) 34.8 (112) 0.1 (59) 5.7 78
100. Purdue -10.3 20.4 (112) 30.7 (88) -0.2 (117) 2.8 17
101. ODU -10.6 22.6 (100) 33.2 (104) 0.0 (80) 4.8 87
102. Arkansas St. -10.7 26.5 (75) 37.2 (122) 0.1 (51) 5.1 103
103. SDSU -10.9 17.5 (126) 28.4 (74) -0.1 (93) 5.5 128
104. J'ville St. -11.2 21.6 (106) 32.8 (99) -0.4 (134) 6.5 135
105. NIU -11.4 16.0 (134) 27.5 (63) -0.2 (124) 6.2 129
106. Hawaii -11.6 19.5 (117) 31.1 (91) -0.2 (118) 5.6 132
107. Wyoming -12.4 20.6 (109) 33.0 (102) 0.1 (46) 5.1 119
108. La. Tech -12.5 17.5 (125) 30.0 (83) -0.1 (98) 6.0 100
109. Sam Houston -12.8 18.9 (120) 31.6 (94) -0.2 (129) 5.0 86
110. FAU -13.6 21.4 (107) 35.0 (113) -0.2 (107) 4.7 118
111. Georgia St. -14.2 24.3 (92) 38.5 (127) -0.2 (109) 3.8 76
112. BGSU -14.4 22.5 (101) 36.9 (121) 0.0 (71) 5.3 107
113. UAB -14.4 24.8 (89) 39.2 (130) 0.1 (47) 4.4 83
114. Delaware -14.4 19.8 (115) 34.2 (109) -0.2 (115) 5.3 127
115. EMU -15.1 19.6 (116) 34.7 (111) 0.1 (57) 5.0 123
116. Rice -15.4 17.2 (129) 32.6 (98) -0.2 (104) 4.2 120
117. UL-Monroe -15.4 17.4 (127) 32.8 (100) -0.1 (95) 4.3 75
118. WMU -15.5 20.4 (111) 35.8 (116) 0.1 (39) 4.7 117
119. Utah St. -15.6 24.2 (93) 39.8 (132) 0.0 (76) 4.1 82
120. CMU -15.8 17.3 (128) 33.1 (103) 0.1 (44) 5.2 97
121. Tulsa -16.8 21.7 (105) 38.4 (125) -0.2 (111) 3.6 113
122. Nevada -16.8 20.0 (114) 36.8 (120) -0.2 (126) 4.1 77
123. UTEP -16.8 18.6 (122) 35.4 (114) -0.2 (130) 4.9 95
124. Temple -17.3 20.4 (110) 37.7 (123) 0.1 (62) 3.6 99
125. NMSU -17.4 21.1 (108) 38.5 (126) 0.2 (34) 5.3 93
126. MTSU -17.6 16.9 (130) 34.5 (110) -0.1 (90) 5.2 134
127. So. Miss -17.7 20.3 (113) 38.0 (124) -0.1 (85) 3.5 125
128. FIU -18.3 17.8 (123) 36.2 (118) -0.1 (99) 4.6 79
129. Missouri St. -18.4 25.8 (82) 44.3 (136) -0.2 (115) 3.9 102
130. New Mexico -18.6 23.2 (98) 41.8 (134) -0.2 (123) 3.6 80
131. Akron -19.8 16.7 (131) 36.5 (119) 0.1 (41) 4.5 126
132. Kennesaw St. -20.1 11.7 (136) 31.7 (96) 0.0 (73) 4.2 114
133. Charlotte -20.1 18.7 (121) 38.8 (129) 0.1 (45) 2.7 66
134. Ball St. -21.9 17.8 (124) 39.7 (131) 0.0 (74) 3.3 115
135. UMass -24.0 19.2 (118) 43.3 (135) -0.2 (128) 3.6 85
136. Kent St. -25.3 16.5 (132) 41.8 (133) -0.2 (122) 2.8 88

Until LSU does something, they do NOT deserve to be ranked anywhere. They weren't at the end of the season.

So, what's changed?

NOTHING

Personally I find these preseason "rankings" to be annoying and wildly speculative, and therefore completely meaningless.

LOL

None of this matters, but OM at 10 with all they lost last year is a lol, and SC also ahead of us when they lost their entire D line I think....and we beat them in SC last year.

Nobody is going to rate Tenn, Ole Miss, and TAMU ahead of LSU except ESPN. That's just asinine right there. I can see an argument for South Carolina and Florida right behind us, 2 super underrated teams. The other 3? No. Though TAMU does have a shot if they can mesh their talent well together enough. Doubt it though.

That's incredible bad

Clemson has 6 possible first rounders, have a weak schedule , & are 15??WTH???

My AI has LSU and Clemson about even. at around 8 or 9. It dings Clemson for lack of depth. It dings us because we did not have a great record last year and is a little confused about the rebuilt roster. They look good on paper, but it's hard to say how effective it will be right out of the box.