The college football season is approaching. Each SEC team will be previewed before the season. Here is the 2022 SEC Football Preview: LSU Tigers.
2021 Record: 6-7 (3-5), 7th in West
L vs Kansas State in Texas Bowl
It was not a good year for the 2019 National Champions. And it was that way from the jump. The Tigers led just 14 seconds on the road at UCLA before the Bruins slammed the door in the fourth quarter. A 1-5 stretch in the middle of the season made Ed Orgeron’s job unsalvageable.
It was the worst SEC record for LSU since 2008. It was also the first time LSU went back-to-back seasons finishing outside of the top 25 since the 1998-1999 seasons. Injuries had a significant impact but regardless, LSU never got things figured out making it a long season for fans.
Savior Brian Kelly
Enter Brian Kelly. The 19-year head coach has found success everywhere he’s been. He made Central Michigan a winner in just three short years. He left Cincinnati with their first perfect season in program history. And he took Notre Dame to the National Championship as well as two College Football Playoffs.
By many measures it is a homerun hire. It’ll be Kelly’s first taste in a power five conference – and arguably the best. Though Notre Dame faced a mostly power five schedule each year, it still doesn’t hold up to an SEC West schedule. Still, there’s plenty of talent to bring LSU back into the national spotlight.
Plenty of Talent
It’s easy to forget after the last two seasons that LSU still has more talent on the roster than most. Kayshon Boutte is a potential first-rounder at wide receiver. The defensive line is among the best with guys like BJ Ojulari, Ali Gaye and Maason Smith.
Having John Emery Jr. available this year is big for an offense that was 13th in rushing last year. The Tigers also return three offensive linemen. The biggest question is who will start at quarterback. It’s still a battle between Garrett Nussmeier and Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels. Kelly has mentioned he doesn’t want to go with a two-quarterback system. And Daniels’ mobile ability might work to his advantage as dual-threat quarterbacks have thrived under Kelly and new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
There’s plenty to be excited about in Baton Rouge. Brian Kelly represents the ability to win and win now which no doubt is what LSU was looking for. The SEC West is as competitive as ever and Kelly will have his work cut out for him. But the talent is there to make waves in year one.
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