How will the LSU Tigers do this season?
It is one of the most compelling questions across not only Louisiana but college football. Has all of LSU’s effort and expense this offseason been worth it? Will it pay off with a berth in the College Football Playoff and a chance at the program’s fifth national title (I’m still counting the 1958 title in LSU’s corner, despite Auburn’s new and ridiculous claim)?
We polled our LSU beat staff and a number of other prominent voices covering the Tigers for their/our predictions on how Brian Kelly’s team will fare this season. The predictions, not surprisingly, fell in a pretty narrow band between 10-2 and 9-3 in the regular season. No one felt LSU was going to repeat 2019, but also clearly that the Tigers will be in at least the conversation for a CFP berth.
Drum roll, please …
Wilson Alexander, The Advocate
Record: 9-3
LSU should be better than it was last year, but it will play seven teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25, starting with the difficult opener at Clemson. The Tigers will be in College Football Playoff contention late in the season. It’s just hard to get to 10 wins.
Chessa Bouche, WVLA/WGMB
Record: 10-2
Throughout fall camp, I've been impressed with LSU's defensive line, especially with transfers Jack Pyburn and Bernard Gooden. The Tigers haven't had "dogs" up front causing havoc and putting pressure on the quarterback. My real concern is the offensive line and the running game. They lost two All-American bookend tackles and only returned one true starter from a year ago. I think with Garrett Nussmeier taking a big step forward in Year 2 as a starter, and focusing on being a more mobile quarterback, will take a lot of pressure off the O-line.
Michael Cauble, WBRZ
Record: 10-2
I think the Tigers will go 10-2 on the season, but I don’t have a ton of hope that they win the opener at Clemson. A tough road opponent with some proven line play will be a tall ask for a talented LSU team that’s going to improve as the season goes along and contend for that spot on the College Football Playoff that will keep everyone in Baton Rouge happy for the holidays. Hey, maybe they even host the first December playoff game in Tiger Stadium this year!
Reed Darcey, The Advocate
Record: 9-3
Give Brian Kelly credit — it looks like he's put together the deepest, most talented roster LSU's had since 2019. Will it pick up nine wins or 10? Or 11? Tough road trips to Clemson and Alabama, plus a sneaky-difficult game at Oklahoma, are making it hard to find more than nine.
Cory Diaz, Gannett Louisiana
Record: 9-3
The offensive line is young and LSU will drop three games, most of those likely on the road in crazy environments, due to some missteps up front. I do think LSU sneaks in the College Football Playoff as one of the final at-large teams.
Jacques Doucet, WAFB
Record: 10-2
LSU could have a really good team and still lose the first game. If that happens, let’s not panic. I do think this is Brian Kelly’s best roster overall with the least amount of holes. In Nuss we trust. I’m going 10-2 and a College Football Playoff berth.
Glenn Guilbeau, Tiger Rag
Record: 10-2
LSU athletic director Scott Woodward shocks the world the day before the No. 9 Tigers open at No. 4 Clemson by proactively proclaiming LSU national champions of 2025, borrowing a page from Auburn athletic director John Cohen's Burnt Orange Linings Playbook. LSU makes Woodward look wayward by falling, 27-13. But this movie's not over. LSU recovers and wins the rest, except for a 27-24 loss at Alabama, to finish 10-2 and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Brian Kelly showers the media with receipts and says, "See you at the national championship."
Matt Moscona, WNXX-FM
Record: 11-2
This is by far Brian Kelly's deepest and most talented team, which includes the best quarterback in the country. The defense will finish top 20 for the first time since 2017. Opening at Clemson is a steep hill to climb and I think the Tigers drop another opener. But after that, I think they finish 7-1 in the SEC and beat Texas in the SEC Championship Game, clinching a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Koki Riley, The Advocate
Record: 10-3
LSU makes the College Football Playoff with a 10-3 record, including a loss to Texas in the SEC Championship Game. Defeats to Clemson and Alabama will prevent LSU from earning a strong seed in the field, but big wins over Florida, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Oklahoma push it into the playoff.
Glen West, Geaux247.com
Record: 10-2
For me, this season comes down to two key questions: 1) Is LSU's defense ready to embrace the havoc identity Blake Baker wants, and 2) Will the LSU offense find the right balance between the run and pass to reach its high ceiling? This is a roster built to withstand any schedule. Despite a few bumps along the way (at Clemson and at Alabama), LSU has the talent and depth to be a playoff caliber team in 2025.
Scott Rabalais, The Advocate
Record: 10-2
I can’t with sound reasoning pick LSU to win its opener at Clemson. But I think this is a program that has learned to course correct with its collective back to the wall. The Tigers will have little room for error if they hope to reach the CFP, but I think they make it through with only one more loss, probably at Alabama.
