It’s amazing how expectations change in such a small amount of time.
One month ago, most sports pundits and fans predicted that LSU would have one of its worst seasons in recent history. It was nothing personal. The schedule was too tough and the team had too many question marks in order for anyone to honestly predict a championship caliber season in 2018.
Sure, there’s always a portion of LSU’s rabid fan base that expects their beloved Tigers to compete for a national championship every year, but there had to be some doubt harbored deep down considering that five of the 12 opponents listed on LSU’s schedule were ranked in the preseason top-25 and four of the five were ranked in the top 10.
Many assumed the Tigers would finish the season with at least five losses and some even believed that coach Ed Orgeron would be seeking a new job at the end of the year.
My, how quickly everything has changed.
When LSU kicker Cole Tracy lined up to kick the last-second field goal against Auburn, he was probably only thinking about delivering the final blow to a top-10 team. As daunting of a task as that may sound, so much more was at stake when he stepped onto the field.
Tracy’s game-winning field goal not only completed LSU’s upset against Auburn, it raised the bar of expectations for the Tigers among fans and the national media.
LSU started the season as the No. 25 team in the country and now sits one place out of the top five at No. 6. Excitement is teeming among fans as visions of playoff berths dance in their heads.
Some remain skeptical, and I would include myself in that number.
While I predicted that the Tigers would upset Miami in the season opener, I fully expected a loss on the road against Auburn. While I’m happy to be proven wrong, this team still has work to do and many questions to answer.
Although LSU has proven its ability to win football games against marquee opponents, I’m still not sure this offense will hold its own when Georgia and Alabama come to town. At times, LSU’s receivers struggled to separate from Auburn’s defensive backs, and running backs were unable to find space against Auburn’s defensive front.
However, it’s often said that a win is a win. LSU stayed within striking distance of Auburn the entire game, and the Fighting Tigers executed plays when it mattered most. LSU’s upset on the road made the Tigers the first team since 1975 to defeat two AP top-10 opponents in the first three weeks of the season, and it’s the first time since 2011 that LSU has defeated two top-10 opponents in the same year.
Only time will tell if this 2018 LSU team is strong enough to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff, but let’s hold off on the confetti and streamers when LSU’s road to a national title has only just begun.