College football is notoriously ridiculous. Every year is filled with season-altering upsets and unbelievable comebacks.
Scenes of fans storming the field and tearing down goalposts are not stories of the past. They are occurrences that happen like clockwork every year as the proverbial Davids line up and slay their Goliaths.
For years, LSU fans have witnessed the mayhem of the collegiate football unfold on their television sets. Yes, the Tigers have been part of the chaotic landscape, but it’s been a long time since LSU has played the role of party crasher.
Before last weekend, 2014 was the last time Tiger fans rushed the field. That was when No. 24 LSU pulled off a 10-7 upset against previously undefeated No. 3 Ole Miss. The euphoria didn’t last. The Tigers would lose three of their next four games, including the bowl game, to finish the year at a dismal 8-5.
LSU’s finish in 2014 was not uncommon. Generally, the teams that pull off upsets do not sustain success in the long run. These underdogs are one-week wonders that rarely find themselves in the championship conversation.
However, there are always exceptions, and I’m beginning to think that this year’s LSU team is a good example of what an exception would look like.
The Tigers were counted out before the year even began. This had less to do with spite for the purple and gold and more about the reality of LSU’s situation.
The Tigers would enter the year with a new offensive coordinator along with a huge question mark at the quarterback position. The returning running backs were largely untested, the receiving corps was green and people still didn’t know what to make of coach Ed Orgeron. Throw in one of the toughest schedules in the country, and you have a recipe for a lackluster season.
Then, the Tigers upset the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes in the first week of the season. Many wrote the win off as a fluke win against an overrated Miami team. Two weeks later, LSU defeated No. 7 Auburn on the road. A buzz started to build around the program until the Tigers stumbled in The Swamp, the name of Florida’s field, against the No. 22 Florida Gators.
LSU was lucky in September, but it would be a rude awakening in October. At least, that’s what so many, including myself, thought. The Tigers responded by playing their most complete game of the season and defeated the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs by 20 points.
Now, no one is really sure what to make of this LSU team. The Tigers weren’t supposed to be the No. 5 team in the country at this point in the season, and they definitely shouldn’t have the best resume in the country make the playoffs. Yet, here we are halfway through October, and LSU is ranked No. 5 with a solid argument to be in the College Football Playoff if it began today.
Despite LSU’s unpredictable success this year, the Tigers still have their doubters. I still think LSU is going to have a trouble against Mississippi State, and I don’t think school officials will have to concern themselves with paying another fine for fans rushing the field come Nov. 3. It should also be noted that nearly half of my predictions about LSU this year have been wrong.
So far, it’s been evident that the Tigers don’t care about anyone’s predictions or how they stack up in the Las Vegas odds. LSU is more than halfway through it’s grueling regular season with its championship goals still intact. What happens next is anyone’s guess.