LSU is the No. 4 team in the country, according to the first release of the Bowl Championship Series rankings Sunday.
The Tigers (6-1) fell to No. 5 in the latest Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches’ polls after their 43-37 triple-overtime loss Saturday to Kentucky.
The first Bowl Championship Series rankings of the season will be released later today.
Check back later for more details. Below are the complete rankings — first place votes are in parentheses.
AP Top 25 1. Ohio State (50) 2. South Florida (11) 3. Boston College (1) 4. Oklahoma (1) 5. LSU (1) 6. South Carolina 7. Oregon 8. Kentucky 9. West Virginia 10. California 11. Virginia Tech 12. Arizona State (1)13. USC 14. Florida15. Kansas 15. Missouri 17. Hawaii 18. Auburn 19. Texas 20. Tennessee 21. Georgia 22. Texas Tech 23. Cincinnati 24. Michigan 25. Kansas State
USA Today/Coaches’ Poll
1. Ohio State (56)2. Boston College (1)3. South Florida (3) 4. Oklahoma5. LSU 6. Oregon 7. West Virginia8. South Carolina 9. (tie) Southern California 9. (tie) California 11. Virginia Tech 12. Arizona State 13. Kentucky 14. Florida 15. Kansas 16. Hawaii 17. Missouri 18. Texas19. Auburn 20. Georgia 21. Texas Tech22. Tennessee23. Cincinnati 24. Virginia25. Penn State
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Kentucky’s infamous, midnight basketball celebration was supposed to take place Friday night.
Apparently, the madness spilled over to Saturday, too.
No. 1 LSU (6-1) couldn’t overcome Kentucky’s high-octane offense and fell 43-37 in triple overtime at Commonwealth Stadium.
“Our football team is in pain – certainly our coaching staff as well,” LSU coach Les Miles said in his post-game radio interview on the LSU Sports Network. “Our team gave great effort. If I were to tell you that they didn’t play hard … then I’d be really hurting. I thought our kids played their tails off. Did they play smart? No.”
In the third overtime period, the Wildcats scored the eventual winning touchdown when quarterback Andre’ Woodson hit wide receiver Steve Johnson for a 7-yard score. Kentucky failed on its ensuing two-point conversion play, which teams are mandated, by rule, to attempt once the third overtime session begins.
The Tigers then got their turn on offense and ran four-straight running plays. Running back Charles Scott took a fourth-and-2 handoff and came up one yard short of a first down, thus giving the Wildcats the victory.
“I still had us going down there getting eight [points] and beating them by two, and that was certainly the feel,” Miles said.
LSU, the top-ranked defense in the country entering the game, surrendered 375 total yards on offense and allowed Kentucky to convert 9-of-17 third-down plays. The Tigers also were flagged 12 times for 103 yards, which is something Miles said he will pay close attention when he reviews the game film.
“I’ll review every penalty,” he said. “There were some plays and some calls I felt needed real strong review – some penalties that aided long drives that needed strong review.”
LSU quarterback Matt Flynn was not at his best, completing 18-of-37 passes for 142 yards and an interception. The senior quarterback missed several throws throughout the game, and he was plagued again by dropped passes — particularly by wide receiver Brandon LaFell.
After the loss, the Tigers will find out their new ranking Sunday – the same time the first Bowl Championship Series rankings will be unveiled. LSU’s next game will be Saturday night at home against Auburn — who has beaten Florida the past two games and gave LSU its first loss this past season.
“Our football has got to come together (and) understand that we’re not undefeated, but (there’s) a lot to play for,” Miles said. “The good news is we’ll come back, fight like hell and play another damn strong opponent here on Saturday night … Certainly this is an opponent we can gain a lot of enjoyment from preparing for and playing well and defeating.”
Check back Sunday for LSU’s updated rankings in the AP, Coaches’ and BCS polls.