After debuting as the second-ranked Southeastern Conference team — No. 5 overall — with one first-place vote in Associated Press’ Preseason Top 25 poll, the LSU football team drops to No. 21 in AP’s first regular season poll after its first season-opening loss in 12 years to Wisconsin, 16-14, on Saturday.

Despite 138 yards on 23 carries from junior running back Leonard Fournette and an interception returned for a touchdown via senior cornerback Tre’Davious White, the Tigers fell 16 spots.

Wisconsin, which was previously left off AP’s list but did receive 42 votes, surged into this week’s poll, landing at No. 10 as a result of beating the No. 5 team in the country.

LSU isn’t the only Southeastern Conference team experiencing a marked drop in ranking as Ole Miss, which surrendered an 18-point lead in a 45-34 loss against No. 3 Florida State on Monday, fell from 11th to No. 19. However, the Tigers now rank below Alabama (No. 1), Tennessee (No. 17), Georgia (No. 9), and Texas A&M (No. 20).
The Tigers play again at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at home against the Ohio Valley Conference’s Jacksonville State Gamecocks.