Another round of rankings was released on Sunday and in no major poll are the LSU Tigers ranked number 1. The “Bayou Bengals” pummeled what was the 7th ranked Florida Gators, 42-28, on Saturday night. This came a month after LSU went into Austin and edged out the then-9th ranked Texas Longhorns, 45-38. Through 7 weeks, no team in college football can claim a set of comparable wins. It’s an absolute joke the LSU Tigers aren’t the consensus top-ranked team in the country.
Inattentive voters and benefits of the doubt
We’re clearly into another season of voters casting ballots based on what they think they know and what has yet to happen. For example, the Alabama Crimson Tide are always heavily favored because of who they are and who they will play. Saban’s boys are a college football powerhouse that plays an SEC West schedule that includes Auburn. But so is and so will the LSU Tigers. Bama’s best non-conference opponent this season was Duke, which doesn’t compare favorably to LSU having played at Texas. And while LSU just knocked off the best team of the SEC East, Bama’s toughest cross-conference opponent was South Carolina. LSU’s pair of wins over top 10 teams would seem to be enough to appease voters, but not quite.
The LSU Tigers climbed to no. 2 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll but only received 12 first-place votes. Alabama remains at the top, having received 30 first-place votes after their 47-28 win over Texas A&M on Saturday. The win is Alabama’s first over a ranked opponent in 2019 and for at least a half, their biggest challenge of the season. The Aggies were able to move the ball against the Alabama defense, which is worth mentioning because, for the first time in a long time, Bama looks very vulnerable. The Crimson Tide boasts one of the most explosive offenses in the country but their defense is young and lacking depth. That said, they aren’t as good of a team in 2019. That hasn’t stopped them from receiving all benefits of the doubt from voters.
It’s all about the quarterback
We could argue the only claim Alabama currently has to no. 1 is the never-ending Tua Tagovailoa highlight reel. Tua is undoubtedly the current Heisman frontrunner but right behind him is LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow has LSU’s offense clicking on all cylinders. Not since Rohan Davey has an LSU quarterback put up the kind of passing days we’re seeing from Burrow. Burrow hung 471 yards on Texas, 398 on Vanderbilt, 344 on Utah State, and another 293 on Florida. Tua fans likely aren’t impressed but they should realize November 9th won’t be another Bama vs LSU game in which the Tigers fail to generate offense. Burrow isn’t going to be intimidated by the Tide defense and he will score points. Much like the Gators tried to on Saturday, the task will be to outscore the uncharacteristically electric LSU offense.
This is probably a good time to mention that I am a University of Alabama alum but also very subjective. And I don’t mean to pick on Alabama’s schedule, but they are holding the bullseye. Few could argue Bama’s resume through 7 weeks of college football is more impressive than LSU’s. The same can be said about Ohio State’s first 6 games and everything the 2019 Clemson Tigers have done to this point. The LSU Tigers are unbeaten and own a pair of major wins that are currently unrivaled by fellow contenders. To this point, what else do we need to crown the true top team in the country?
What say you?
“Clemson is the champ and should be no. 1 until they lose!”
Arguably. But they haven’t played half of it yet and as of today, their best win came against a 2-loss team ranked 24.
This isn’t the same championship Clemson team from last year. Not even close.
“Have you seen Ohio State play!?”
I have, and they’re good. But so is Wisconsin and Penn State. If Ohio State goes through both and is still standing, we can talk. As expected, the Buckeyes have beat up nothing but unranked opponents.
“Oklahoma knocked off Texas and finally has a defense!”
That they do and that they did. LSU also beat Texas, in hostile territory, and has a second top 10 win to boot. Oklahoma’s next notable win came against Texas Tech.
Anything else?
