LSU ranked No. 5 in college football preseason AP Top 25

<p>LSU football senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) rushes down the field on Saturday, April 22, 2023, during LSU’s 32-32 tie during the spring game in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.</p>

Reagan Cotten

LSU football senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) rushes down the field on Saturday, April 22, 2023, during LSU’s 32-32 tie during the spring game in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

By Jason Willis, Managing Editor

The AP announced its season-opening college football rankings Monday with LSU coming in at No. 5.

The Tigers are ranked third-highest out of the six SEC teams in the top 25, behind No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama but ahead of No. 12 Tennessee, No. 22 Ole Miss and No. 23 Texas A&M.

LSU’s week one opponent, Florida State, also cracked the top ten at No. 8. The Tigers will face FSU on Sep. 3 in Orlando.

LSU’s ranking is an improvement after finishing last season ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll following a 10-4 season that culminated with an appearance in the SEC Championship and a Citrus Bowl victory over Purdue.

The Tigers’ spot is their highest preseason AP ranking since 2016, also at No. 5.

Below are the full rankings:

Georgia (60 first-place votes)

Michigan (2)

Ohio State (1)

Alabama

LSU

USC

Penn State

Florida State

Clemson

Washington

Texas

Tennessee

Notre Dame

Utah

Oregon

Kansas State

TCU

Oregon State

Wisconsin

Oklahoma

North Carolina

Ole Miss

Texas A&M

Tulane

Iowa